LONDON (ShareCast) - Medical products developer Maelor swung into profits for the half year and said it is looking to the future with confidence.

Pre-tax profits rose to £659,000 in the six month to end-September compared to a loss of £75,000 last time on turnover up 132% to £3.1m. “Trading since the period end remains strong and we look to the future with confidence,” said chief executive Tim Wright.

Shares in Penna Consulting also gained after the management consultant moved into profit for the half year. Pre-tax profit rose to £561,000 for the six month to 30 September compared to a loss of £1m on revenue up 13.2% to £22.42m.

“Demand for our services is on an upward trend and we are looking forward to completing a very satisfactory year and to continued profitable growth in 2008/9,” said the group.

Specialist engineering group Thomas Walker said a full year of trading from the new brass stamping acquisition, together with a rise in sales of garment accessories, contributed to a 35% increase in turnover to £9.89m. Pre-tax profit rose to £629,341 in the twelve month to 30 June from £252,603 last time.

“Turnover and profitability have been enhanced in both of the trading sectors at a time when considerable managerial attention has been focussed on the amalgamation of the two stamping operations into a single operation in the Digbeth factory, with the CNC operations at Kings Norton,” said the group.

Thomas Walker added that it is well placed to consolidate its recent progress.

Software specialist Corero has secured an order to supply Bank of Ireland Global Markets with its Blue Curve research management software solution. The contract is for the supply of licences, professional services, hosting and support, for a period of 3 years and will begin immediately.

Russian fixed-line telecoms operator Teleset Networks has bought Svyazinvest, a private fixed-line telecom operator in Naberezhnie Chelny, for $10.8m.

Shares in Eruma, the security blind manufacturer, rallied after it said it has successfully undertaken tests on an enhanced Security Blinds product.

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