Robert Walters was the best-performing share in the recruitment sector in 2006. Those who invested in the financial recruiter at the start of the year enjoyed a return of 125%, including a dividend. It is now at a record high.

In the first half of the year, Walters' pre-tax profit was £8.1m, up 66% on the same period a year ago. The Asia Pacific region was especially strong for the firm.

Robert Walters is due to report its results for 2006 as a whole at the end of next month.

IT recruiter SThree was another strong performer, up 81%. SThree enjoyed its first full year as a quoted company and was promoted to the FTSE 250 index of mid-cap companies in the summer.

OPD, owner of headhunter Odgers, saw its share price nearly double over the year, to 491p.

The gains for recruitment shares were partly a reflection of the strength of shares generally on the London stock market, which has pushed the FTSE 250 index up to an all-time high.