In Brief

TT Group's full-year figures were welcomed in the City yesterday, with analysts nudging up their forecasts for the diversified industrial group. After a 26 per cent jump in pre-tax profits for the year to December to pounds 44.9m, current year forecasts were being moved up to between pounds 52m and pounds 53m. The company said demand for its products, which range from resistors to circuit board assemblies and suspended ceilings, had remained strong throughout the year with electronic components showing the strongest growth. Earnings per share rose 20 per cent to 19.5p while the dividend increased by a similar margin to 6.52p.

Takare, the nursing home group, warned yesterday that industry occupancy levels would not match those of last year. It said problems largely related to temporary local authority funding difficulties and this would be seen as a short-term dip in the group's traditionally high occupancy levels. The group added 1,050 beds in 1995, taking the total to 7,620, but said newly commissioned homes were taking longer to fill. Pre-tax profits inched ahead from pounds 21.1m to pounds 21.8m last year, hit by the decision to depreciate buildings. The dividend rises 13 per cent to 2.6p after a final of 1.7p.