Company News in brief

Cantors, the furniture and carpets retailer, fell to £105,000 (£563,000) pre-tax profit in the six months to 31 October. EPS 0.43p (2.42p). Dividend 1p (same).

DY Davies, the architectural services group, reduced taxable losses from £116,000 to £38,000 in the six months to 31 October on £2.9m (£2.5m) turnover. LPS 0.6p (1.8p). No dividend.

Domino Printing Sciences, makers of ink-jet printing systems, recorded a 43 per cent rise in pre-tax profits from £9.1m to £13m, driven by a steady growth in turnover to £89.9m (£81.5m). EPS improved to 32.9p (23.07p). Total dividend is 9.6p (7.95

p).

Mitie, building services provider, climbed to £1.85m (£1.4m) pre-tax profit in the six months to 30 September. Turnover grew to £60.2m (46.6m). EPS 4.9p (3.6p). Dividend 1.3p (1p).

Shandwick lifted pre-tax profits to £7.3m (£4.8m) for the year to 31 October. Turnover rose to £170.5m (£162.5m). EPS 4.1p (1.8p). Total dividend is 1.3p.

Shield Group incurred £324,000 taxable loss (profit £5,000) in the six months to 30 September. LPS 6.7p (3.2p). No dividend.

Watson & Philip, the food distributor, reported lower pre-tax profits of £10.6m (£12.5m) for the year to 31 October, hit by a drop in turnover to £440.6m (£573.8m). EPS 27.9p (23.9p). Total dividend is 15.3p (14.3p).