Balfour Beatty shares reached a record high today as it nudged its annual profit forecasts higher. It came as the FTSE 250 construction firm reported strong demand for infrastructure projects on both sides of the Atlantic in the first half of the year. Pre-tax profits jumped 46 per cent to £139million on net revenues of £5billion, up 10 per cent in the first half. Balfour Beatty reported increased demand for infrastructure projects in the UK and USIt is also working on the construction of Net Zero Teesside, which is aiming to be the world’s first gas-fired power station with carbon capture and storage. Increased defence spending and an emphasis on UK suppliers ‘are all supportive for Balfour Beatty’s long-term ambitions in the space,' it said.