Company news in brief

New Cavendish Estates, the property developer and trader, sharply increased pre-tax profits from pounds 28,000 to pounds 369,000 in the year to 30 June. Rental income eased slightly to pounds 1.3m ( pounds 1.35m), but lower interest charges of pounds 143,000 ( pounds 426,000) and a cut of about a third in operating costs helped to lift profits. Earnings per share were raised from 0.2p to 2.17p.

Baris Holdings, the fire protection systems provider, plunged from pounds 403,000 pre-tax profit to a pounds 70,000 loss in the six months to 31 August. Group turnover improved slightly from pounds 11m to pounds 11.3m. No dividend (2p).

Anglo St James, the property developer, cut pre-tax losses from pounds 499,000 to pounds 289,000 in the half- year to 30 June. Turnover increased from pounds 174,000 to pounds 1.34m. Loss per share was slashed from 4.8p to 1.8p. No dividend.

Forward Technology Industries, the electronics group, slumped to pounds 539,000 pre-tax loss (profit pounds 635,000) in the half-year to June.

Abtrust New European Investment Trust was unable to pay an interim dividend for the six months to 31 August, as net asset value per share declined from 79.75p to 67.19p. Pre-tax profit advanced from pounds 265,000 to pounds 329,000.