Company News in Brief

Johnson Group Cleaners' pre-tax profits eased slightly to pounds 7.9m ( pounds 8.2m) in the half-year to 30 June, hit by an overall cut in customer dry cleaning bills. Interim dividend is held at 7p.

Blagden Industries lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 6m ( pounds 5.4m) for the half-year to 30 June. Interim dividend is held at 4.5p.

Ayrshire Metal Products made pre-tax profit of pounds 115,000 ( pounds 41,000) after redundancy costs of pounds 74,000 in the half-year to 30 June.

Tullow Oil made a net profit of Ir pounds 2.1m (Ir pounds 65,000) for the half- year to 30 June.

Associated Fisheries' gains in new contracts at its cold storage and supply companies contributed to higher pre-tax profits of pounds 1.3m ( pounds 714,000) in the half-year to 30 June. Dividend is held at 1p.

F&C Investment Trust's net asset value per share fell to 181.4p (188.8p). Dividend is 1.12p (1.07p) for 26 weeks to 30 June.