Property company thrives at top end of housing market

John D Wood, the residential property firm, paid its first dividend (0.75p) for three years and returned to the black. Interim pre-tax profits of pounds 369,000 ( pounds 77,000 loss) were built on a 50 per cent rise in London sales. Shares rose 9p to 103p on a confident statement from the joint chairmen, George Pope (left) and Ian Homersham.

Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid

(Photograph omitted)