Company News in Brief

Richardson Westgarth, the steel stockholder, lifted pre-tax profits from pounds 878,000 to pounds 1m in the half- year to 30 June. Interim dividend is 1.25p (1.2p).

Sheafbank Property climbed from pounds 831,000 loss to pounds 19,000 pre-tax profit in the six months to 30 September. Dividend is held at 0.1p.

North Midland Construction fell to pounds 84,000 ( pounds 452,000) in the half- year to 30 June. Interim dividend is cut to 0.3p (0.5p).

Standard Platforms Holdings, the computer supplier, deepened taxable losses to pounds 847,000 ( pounds 584,000 loss) in the year to 31 March.

Ward Holdings, the house builder and trader, increased pre-tax losses from pounds 397,000 to pounds 1.8m in the six months to 30 April.

Beta Global Emerging Markets IT plunged to pounds 167,000 pre-tax loss ( pounds 987,000 profit) in the half- year to 30 June. Net asset value per share is 105.9p (101.5p).

Kleinwort Overseas IT is paying a 1.5p dividend for the six months to 30 June.

Siam Selective Growth Trust is paying a final dividend of 0.25p for the year to 31 March.