Earnings per share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

8. Earnings per share

Basic

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity shareholders of the company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year, excluding ordinary shares purchased by the company and held as treasury shares.

Diluted

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares to take account of all dilutive potential ordinary shares and adjusting the profit attributable, if applicable, to account for any tax consequences that might arise from conversion of those shares.


All figures in £ millions	Notes	2018			2017			2016
Earnings/(loss) for the year from continuing operations			590			408			(2,335	)
Non-controlling interest			(2	)		(2	)		(2	)

Earnings/(loss) attributable to equity holders of the company			588			406			(2,337	)

Weighted average number of shares (millions)			778.1			813.4			814.8
Effect of dilutive share options (millions)			0.6			0.3			—
Weighted average number of shares (millions) for diluted earnings			778.7			813.7			814.8

Earnings/(loss) per share
Basic			75.6p			49.9p			(286.8)p
Diluted			75.5p			49.9p			(286.8)p