Continued growth in the Chinese economy despite the global downturn helped China Shoto, which makes batteries for mobile phones, post a 41% rise in revenues in the half year to June 30.Pre-tax profits climbed to £6.4m from £4.4m over the same period the previous year as revenue rose to £96.5m from £68.6m.Resources in Insurance, which helps insurance companies deal with claims, saw revenues fall to £0.97m in the six months to June 30 from £1.2m over the same period the previous year, but managed to narrow pre-tax losses by 52% to £0.31m.The firm was helped by the sale of its loss adjusting division. Marketing group Cello posted lower revenues and fell into losses amid tough economic conditions but said it was focusing on defensive sectors to help it whether the downturn.In the six months to June 30, pre-tax losses totalled £3.9m compared with a profit of £2.2m over the same period the previous year, as revenues fell to £58m from £66.1m.'Despite the recession, the group has emerged with a strong position in many of its markets, particularly in pharmaceutical, healthcare and the public sector, which together make up over 40% of Cello's income,' the firm said.Debt advice firm Fairpoint moved into profit in the six months to June 30 as it implemented a turnaround plan and benefited from the high debt levels being experienced in the current tough economic conditions.The firm posted a pre-tax profit from continuing operations of £1.5m in the first six months of the year, compared with a loss of £800,000 over the same period the previous year. Revenue was flat at £13.8m.Independent Media Distribution, which modifies TV adverts for online delivery, posted a fall in pre-tax profits in the six months to June 30, but lifted its dividend and said that trading had picked up.Adjusted pre-tax profits fell to £570,000 from £740,000 over the same period the previous year as revenues slipped to £3.65m from £3.76m.The interim dividend rises to 0.5p a share from 0.35p.'The first two months of the second half have begun strongly, with revenues 8% ahead of last year and profits in excess of our expectations,' the firm said.Shieldtech, which makes body armour for soldiers and police officers, posted a rise in sales and moved into profit in the six months to June 30.Pre-tax profits totalled £92,000, compares with a loss of £10.2m over the same period the previous year. Revenue climbed to £10.3m from £5.9m.Avon Rubber has won a new five-year contract with the US Department of Defence for the M53 protective mask. The initial order is for $3.7m with an overall potential of $43.4m. Ascent Resources' Hungarian subsidiary PetroHungaria Kft has completed testing of the PEN-105 gas well in the Nyírség permits of Eastern Hungary. The flow rates achieved and the reserves associated with this appraisal well were 'substantially' higher than pre-drill estimates, it said. Leni Gas & Oil is 'very pleased' with the news. It has a 7.3% stake in the prospect.Oil and gas focussed engineering services firm Lamprell has won three contracts worth a total of $52m.A deal with Saipem Energy Services is valued at $18.1m, one with Noble International is worth $20.4m and a third with Transocean Investments should bring in $13.4m.Vitamins & supplements company NeutraHealth has grown half-year revenue by 43% to £16.6m and adjusted pre-tax profit by 24% to £0.7m.'Our emphasis is now on further organic growth across the Group and on improving our core business revenue and profitability through new product development and cost price reduction,' said boss Ray Myers. 'We expect to continue steady progress with this over the coming months.'Learning management systems provider NetDimensions saw pre-tax profit rocket in the first half of 2009 on the back of 26 new client wins.Profit before tax rose to $0.41m from $0.94m a year earlier on revenue that rose to $3.05m from $2.94m. The cash balance at the end of June was $6.82m, equivalent to around 16.5p per NetDimension share, up from 14.7p per share at the end of 2008.Mobile phone content retailer Mobile Streams has launched a web site offering access to top titles from the world's best mobile games retailers. The site will support numerous smartphone operating systems such as Google Android, BlackBerry and Apple iPhone/Nationwide Accident Repair, the crash repair and accident administration service provider to the insurance industry, saw pre-tax profit slide in the first half of 2009 as it saw a marked and rapid drop in high margin smaller repair work.Profit before tax fell to £2.4m from £3.9m a year earlier on revenue that grew from £88.3m to £90.9m. The interim dividend has been maintained at 1.7p per share.Uranium Resources has confirmed it is in talks to purchase Indago Resources' Tanzanian uranium assets.The share price of electronic payment and loyalty card provider Universe Group shot to a 52-week high after the company said it has received a preliminary bid approach.Oxford Instruments, which supplies tools for industry and research, said industrial demand in the company's first quarter, covering the three months to end-June, continued to be at the expected low level.Demand for the company's research equipment, however, 'has remained resilient both in the first quarter and in trading to date,' the company's chairman, Nigel Keen, said. 'We expect this market to remain robust, supported by government stimulus funds for science in the USA, Europe and Asia,' Keen added.The company is starting to see some slight improvement in demand for its products in the industrial sector.
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