Company News in Brief

Year ended 31 December

Appleyard eased to pounds 1.7m ( pounds 1.8m) pre- tax profit. Earnings per share were 2.3p (2.5p). Final dividend is 2.6p, making 5.2p (7.8p).

BNB Resources reduced pre-tax profits to pounds 712,000 ( pounds 2.7m). Earnings per share fell to 3p (8.3p). Final dividend is 3.3p, making 4.9p (same).

British Alcan Aluminium cut pre-tax losses from pounds 45.6m to pounds 15.9m.

Canning (W) made pounds 4.5m ( pounds 5.7m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share eased to 8.2p (12.2p). A 4.35p final dividend held the total payout at 7.29p.

Horace Clarkson slumped to pounds 500,000 ( pounds 5.5m) pre-tax profit. Loss per share is 1.3p (EPS 12.9p). Total dividend is cut to 1.5p (8p).

Headline Book Publishing lifted pre- tax profits to pounds 2.05m ( pounds 1.3m). Earnings per share rose to 11.9p (9p). Final dividend is 3p, making 4.5p (3p).

LGW boosted pre-tax profits to pounds 832,000 ( pounds 77,000). Earnings per share are 10.2p (0.8p). Final dividend is 1.875p, making 3p.

North Sea Assets eased to pounds 1.95m ( pounds 2.1m) pre-tax profit. EPS are 3.33p (4.16p). Total dividend is 1p (0.75p).

Pittard Garnar fell to pounds 1.8m ( pounds 2.1m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share dropped to 4.7p (6.4p). Final dividend is 1.5p, making 2p (1.5p).

Plasmec sharply increased pre-tax profits to pounds 672,000 ( pounds 180,000). Earnings per share 10.4p (2.5p). Final dividend is 2.25p, making 3.75p (2.5p).

Wolstenholme Rink achieved pounds 3.5m ( pounds 2.3m) pre-tax profit. Final dividend is 10.5p, making 17p.

Six months to 31 December

Community Hospitals fell to pounds 1.9m ( pounds 2.7m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share are 4.3p (6.2p). Interim dividend is held at 2.4p.

John Maunders Group slipped to pounds 1.5m ( pounds 2.2m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share are 3.98p (5.97p). Interim dividend is held at 2.3p.

FW Thorpe made pounds 402,000 ( pounds 630,000) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share are 2.11p (3.4p). Interim dividend is held at 0.8p.

Sheldon Jones incurred pounds 764,000 ( pounds 912,000) pre-tax loss. Loss per share is 14.77p (16.41p). No dividend.

Trafford Park edged up to pounds 1.7m ( pounds 1.6m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share rose to 1.72p (1.67p). Interim dividend is held at 0.85p.

Others

Murray Ventures advanced to pounds 2.2m ( pounds 1.9m) pre-tax profit in the six months to 31 January. Interim dividend is held at 3.4p.