IND.L Share News (IND)

Bread and cake maker Finsbury Food posted a fall in pre-tax profits in the year to July 4 and said trading conditions are likely to remain tough in the short term.Finsbury, which has licensing agreements with the chocolate retailer Thorntons and the confectionery giant Nestle, posted pre-tax profits of £5m for the year to July 4, compared with £7.7m over the same period the previous year.Revenues climbed to £179m from £165m, with acquisitions such as that of bread supplier Goswell helping lift sales. Shares in design consultancy Hyder Consulting climbed after it reported strong trading its Asia Pacific and Middle East businesses. The company said it Asia Pacific operations have benefited from strong sales performance in transport and property sectors, while it has seen increased operations in the Middle East.Trading in Europe has been more mixed, with transport businesses performing strongly, but property and environment sectors being more difficult.Recruitment and outsourcing group Harvey Nash saw pre-tax profits fall by more than 50% in the half year to July 31 as touch economic conditions slashed demand for staff.Pre-tax profits fell to £1.8m from £3.9m over the same period the previous year as revenues stayed flat at £200m.ServicePower, which provides outsourced service and field management, saw half-year pre-tax losses increase to £2m (H1 2008: £0.3 million) reflecting one-off restructuring costs and foreign exchange losses. Revenues rose 18% to £9.4m.Shariah Capital, a US-based company that creates Shariah compliant financial products, posted a net loss of $1m in the first half, against a loss of $1.7m last year. It generated first half revenues of $684,175 compared to $87,469 in 2008, the result of fee income principally from its Al Safi Trust and DSAM investment products."Despite challenges on many fronts, the Board is pleased with management's execution of the Company's strategy thus far in 2009. It has enhanced the Company's reputation and sustained last year's momentum by generating additional revenues, assets and new business opportunities," said the group.Cluff Gold, the West African focused gold mining group, saw half-year pre-tax losses surge to $29.5m against $4.3m due to the $21m impairment related to mining properties. Renewable Energy Holdings, investor and operator of renewable energy technologies, saw half-year losses rise to £2.2m (H1 2008: £930,000). Revenue fell 8% to £2.4m (H1 2008: £2.6m) due to unseasonal light winds in Germany.Retinal imaging firm Optos says trading in the year to 30 September has been ahead of expectations, although the customer renewal rate fell 'slightly' year-on-year.'We are focused on implementing our strategy, and driving increased customer usage through an effective and motivated sales force,' said boss Roy Davis. 'This strategy, off a lower cost base, is delivering early signs of progress towards increasing profitability.'IndigoVision, which uses internet-based digital technology to make surveillance systems, has posted record results ahead of expectations and announced a maiden dividend.Profit before tax for the year ended 31 July jumped to £3.26m from £2.04m in 2008 on revenue up 43% to a record £26.36m. The group will pay a dividend of 5p a share.Pre-tax profits fell to £150,000 in the six months to June 30 at Leni Gas and Oil despite revenues climbing to £877,000 from £815,000.Shares in financial software firm Business Control fell after it fell into losses on declining revenues.In the six months to June 30, the company posted a loss of £414,000, compared with a profit of £29,000 a year previously as revenue slipped to £4.50m from £4.55m.'We continue to face lengthening sales cycles as our prospective customers wrestle with the need for increased control and their own internal budgetary pressures,' the firm said.'Across the board the property market deteriorated badly during the year under report and like many other companies in the sector we have had our ups and downs,' said property group All Points North as it posted a fall in profits and revenues.The firm, which rents out profits to health centres, bookmakers and other tenants in Cumbria and Lancashire, said it has been concentrating on reducing rates rather than holding out for higher prices.Waste manager Augean saw pre-tax profits in the half year to June 30 fall to £1m from £1.2m over the same period the previous year as revenues fell to £15m from £16.8m.'The unprecedented downturn in our key client sectors continues to create a challenging trading environment which we expect to remain difficult for the remainder of the year,' it said.