The Roche group reported sales of CHF 42.1 billion ($42.5 billion) for the first nine months of 2018, up by 7% from a year earlier led by strong demand in the US for its cancer medicines and a new multiple sclerosis drug. The Switzerland-based company does not provide earnings figures for the third quarter.
Nevertheless it is forecasting a further increase in its dividend in Swiss francs for the year. In 2017, the company paid a dividend of CHF 8.30 per share.