GlaxoSmithKline Plc has announced plans to raise its dividend by a further 6% to 17 pence per share and increase the size of its share repurchases following a third quarter in which reported sales and operating profit before restructuring both rose by 3%. The growth in underlying sales, which excludes pandemic influenza-related products, the antidiabetic, Avandia (rosiglitazone), and the antiviral, Valtrex (valaciclovir), was 6%, a somewhat faster pace than in the previous quarter.
