Company News in Brief

Ferguson International, the mini- conglomerate, made pre-tax profits in the six months to end-August of pounds 6m, up 14.7 per cent. Interim dividend 4.5p, up 5.9 per cent.

Airflow Streamlines, the engineer and vehicle dealer, doubled pre- tax profits from pounds 464,000 to pounds 915,000 in the six months to 31 August. Earnings per share are 6.87p (3.34p). Dividend is 2p (1p).

Cradley Group, the lithographic printer, fell to pounds 1.2m ( pounds 1.6m) pre- tax profit in the year to 30 June on pounds 23.7m ( pounds 29.6m) turnover. Earnings per share 2.5p (3.3p). Total dividend 1.5p (1.15p).

Yorklyde, the cloths, scarves and rugs maker, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.7m ( pounds 1.5m) in the six months to 30 July. Earnings per share 11.4p (10.2p). Dividend is 2.4p (2.2p).

Half-year to 30 June Chesterfield Properties' pre-tax profits fell to pounds 4.9m ( pounds 7.8m) on lower turnover figures of pounds 16.45m ( pounds 17.3m). Earnings per share fell to 11.9p (20.3p). Dividend rose 10 per cent to 4.4p.

Ferrum Holdings, steel maker, reported wider taxable losses of pounds 4.2m ( pounds 1.5m). Turnover rose from pounds 16.5m to pounds 19.5m. LPS worsened from 22.98p to 33.01p.

Lionheart, maker of retail display systems and decorators' tools, made pounds 841,000 taxable loss (profit pounds 518,000). Loss per share is 0.51p (EPS 0.13p). No dividend (0.1p).

Davenport Knitwear, fabric and garment maker, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 855,000 ( pounds 607,000). Earnings per share 33p (23.5p).