LONDON (ShareCast) - Technology consultant Sagentia said its order book remains strong and anticipates that trading in the consulting business will continue the progress made in the second half of the year.

The group said the technology consulting and intellectual property licensing business, Sagentia Ltd, continued to grow profitably in line with management expectations.

“Overall the group's balance sheet remains strong, the group's freehold at Harston Mill is fully let, and there has been no overall material change to the financial position since publication of the group's preliminary results for the year ended 31st December 2007,” it said.

The group hopes to move its domicile from Switzerland to the UK and move to AIM from the Official List by the end of the first half the year.

Park maintenance group Parkwood’s revenue is up by 19% in the first three months of 2008. Orders have increased by 35% to £546m (2007: £405m) as a result of new contract wins in the Glendale and Leisure Divisions in the quarter; increasing the forward order book by £33m. Overall trading remains in line with market expectations.

Shares in Parity slumped as the IT training and services group warned that a weak first quarter and £500,000 of one-off charges will result in a weaker than expected first half. The current trading outlook for the year is below management's previous expectations and will be significantly weighted towards the second half, it added.

Northern Recruitment is to review its final dividend payout after a slowdown in temporary recruitment, which it expects to last for the remainder of the year. Permanent revenues are holding up but the recruiter now results for the current year will be “somewhat below present market expectations”.

“In considering the full year dividend the board will take account of not only the anticipated level of earnings but also the strength of the group's balance sheet,” it added.

Hargreaves Services said its joint venture Coal4Energy, which it owns with UK Coal, acquired a majority share in solid fuel manufacturer Maxibrite Limited for £4.7m.

Gold producer Mercator Gold saw revenue rise to A$9.56m, reflecting an average price realised of A$975, which was up 48% from the previous quarter. Gold production rose 37.5% to 10,852 ounces.

Optos, the retinal imaging device manufacturer, said its P200MA device has been used in a major diabetic research study that revealed new findings in peripheral retinal neovascularisation. The device was used to capture ultra wide-field images of over 700 eyes from a diabetic patient base.

Sports consultancy group TSE surged ahead after it said the third phase of its expansion plan is to begin in 2008. The group posted pre-tax losses of £227,124 compared with the profit of £122,770 on maiden revenue of £317,000.

"The current year has started well and the board is confident about the prospects for TSE in the year ahead," said the group.

German commercial property firm Summit Germany announces that its recently acquired subsidiary, Deutsche Real Estate, has sold its share in a property located in Cologne.

The property was held through a joint venture in which Deutsche RE's share is 40%. Its share in the sale amounts to €2m.

• News Channel