Toy-maker Lego returned to profit growth last year driven by higher sales of Star Wars and Harry Potter-themed products.

The firm reported a three per cent increase in pre-tax profits to 10.5 billion Danish kroner (£1.2bn) for 2018 and a 3% rise in net profit to 8.1bn kroner (£930m).

Sales stabilised last year and grew 4% to 36.4bn kroner (£4.1bn) after falling in 2017.

However, Lego has bucked a trend after revenue was boosted by strong double-digit growth in China as the company expanded its offering in the country, while some other tradtional toy firms have struggled.

Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic World and Ninjago were among Lego's top selling building set themes in 2018.

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Chief executive Niels Christiansen said: "While physical play remains our core, we will continue to invest in innovative, fun and safe ways to integrate the brick with the myriad possibilities of digital play."

Mr Kipling cakes firm Premier Foods has announced it will launch a strategic review.

The company said in a stock market announcement that, following discussions with its largest investors, Premier has decided to conduct "a review of its strategic options" for increasing shareholder value.

It is understood that one of the options is a potential sale of the group as the company grapples with large-scale pension liabilities and attempts to slash its £500 million debt pile.

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Premier has come under intense pressure recently as activist investors who own more than 20 per cent of the group called for a radical shake-up.

Fintech start-up Nivaura has raised $20 million (£15m) in a funding round led by the London Stock Exchange Group to expand its headcount.

Santander InnoVentures, the Spanish banking giant's investment arm, law firms Allen & Overy and Linklaters and Transamerica Ventures, a subsidiary of insurer Aegon, also participated in the funding round, amongst others.

Nivaura, founded in 2016, automates the back-office processes for issuing debt and equity and provides digital investment banking platforms for banks and other financial firms.

The company said the funds raised will be used to "rapidly expand its leadership, business development and technical teams in order to accelerate growth".