Character Share News (CCT)

Toy maker Character expects to make a "strong return to profitability" for the year to 31 August and reports second half and full-year sales ahead of forecasts. "Sales in the new year have started well and are likely to substantially out-perform our internal forecasts for September," the firm said. "Hopefully, this trend will continue throughout the Christmas season."Healthcare software provider Advanced Computer Software predicts interim revenue will match forecasts and profit will beat expectations as it shields itself from upcoming spending cuts.Bosses reckons sales for the six months to 31 August will rise to £47.3m from £11m a year ago, and adjusted EBITDA will be at least £12m, up from £3m last time."Advanced offers mission critical products for both the public and private sectors," said chief executive Vin Murria. "We believe this diversification will protect the group from the worst of the anticipated public sector spending cuts." Titanium Resources turned in a record profit after tax of $3.88m in the first half compared with a $4.95m loss in 2009, thanks mainly to a $5.3m insurance payout on the capsize of Dredge D2.Sales were down to $18.63m from $19.79m, while rutile shipments fell to 27,648 tonnes due to the delay in the docking of a vessel due at the end of June. The firm is targeting full year production of 64,000 - 70,000 tonnes despite a dip in six-month output to 30,650 tonnes.Russia focused explorer Urals Energy made a net profit of $1.6m in the six months ended 30 June versus a huge impairment-driven $440m loss a year ago.Average daily production slipped to 2,084 barrles of oil per day (bopd) from 4,251 last time following the sale of Dulisma.Antofagasta has agreed to fund further work at the La Zarza copper-gold joint venture with Ormonde Mining, having already pumped in $1m.Ormonde managing director Kerr Anderson said work activities to-date and the global resource estimate of 61 million tonnes, reported today by Antofagasta, "demonstrate that there is a significant and substantial copper resource at La Zarza".Speciality pharmaceutical company IS Pharma has launched Aquoral, its oral spray for dry mouth suffered by patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in the UK. IS Pharma also has the option for exclusive rights to market Aquoral in Germany.House broker FinnCap noted that "according to the NHS prescription cost analysis (PCA) for 2008, sales of products for dry mouth and oral inflammation to NHS England exceeded £5m," which it believes to be an underestimate of the UK market. It believes Aquoral could achieve peak sales in excess of £750,000, though it has left its profit forecasts for IS Pharma unchanged for the time being.