Xaar Share News (XAR)

Shares in software assurance provider NCC were boosted by strong interim figures and a 17% increase in the dividend. Revenues increased from £20.8m to £25.42m in the six months to November 2009. Underlying profits improved from £5.2m to £6.2m. The interim dividend rises from 3p a share to 3.5p a share. The order book is worth £30.9m. Net debt is £8.6m and operational cash generation will continue to reduce the figure.Printing heads developer Xaar says its 2009 figures should be in line with expectations but the cautious tone of its trading statement led to a dip in the share price. Cost cutting is behind the achievement of expectations but supporting new customers is costing more than anticipated. Increased competition has hit margins for the more established technology while the newest version is starting to contribute revenues. There have been additional costs in supporting development customers of this new technology. The cash position remains strong with net cash of £11.1m at the end of 2009.Former house broker Panmure Gordon forecasts 2009 profit of £2.9m and has set a 60p a share target, which is well below the current share price. Full year results will be announced on 17 March. Management expects an improvement in profit in 2010. FTSE TechMARK - RisersNCC Group (NCC) 423.00p +5.75%Torotrak (TRK) 25.00p +4.00%AEA Technology (AAT) 27.00p +3.85%Puricore (PURI) 13.25p +3.77%Dialight (DIA) 275.00p +3.77%NXT (NTX) 14.75p +3.39%KCOM Group (KCOM) 53.75p +3.37%Triad Group (TRD) 33.50p +2.99%Sepura (SEPU) 44.50p +2.89%Alphameric (ALM) 28.00p +2.75%FTSE TechMARK - FallersXaar (XAR) 80.50p -6.40%Network Technology (NTY) 2,600.00p -5.77%Filtronic (FTC) 32.25p -3.01%Emblaze (BLZ) 42.00p -2.33%Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 11.75p -2.08%Vernalis (VER) 84.25p -2.03%SDL International (SDL) 454.50p -1.94%Innovation Group (TIG) 13.00p -1.89%Psion (PON) 94.00p -1.83%Alterian (ALN) 145.50p -1.69%