LONDON (ShareCast) - Diagnostics specialist Celsis's core divisions of Rapid Detection and In Vitro Technologies have seen strong trading so far this fiscal year, it said ahead of its AGM.The Analytical and Development Services businesses made a slow start in the first quarter but Celsis sees a strengthening order book in the coming months.

Car dealer Caffyns has reiterated that 2008 is proving to be a difficult year. A decline in consumer activity, and consequent margin pressure, has resulted in a difficult trading environment for the first quarter of our financial year,it says, "The outlook remains uncertain although we expect trading conditions to remain challenging." Caffyns also rejected comments from shareholder New Fortress that the board has been failing in its fiduciary duty because of Caffyns' performance.

Drug testing group Concateno has renewed and enhanced a £2.25m annual two year Drugs Intervention Programme contract with the Home Office to provide police with a new detection device for the oral screening of drugs of misuse.

Wallpaper and fabrics group Walker Greenbank's sales in the first half of the financial year, to 31 July 2008, are expected to be at least 5% above last year, reflecting continued strong organic growth in its brands.

Approximately 40% of sales are in contract and overseas markets, where we are currently under represented and developing strongly. "As a result, and provided current performance trends continue, we expect the company to meet market expectations for the full year,"it said.

Anglo Asian's chief executive Gordon Lewis has given notice of his resignation to be located closer to his family in Melbourne. Asian added that unusually prolonged rain in May and June slowed road-making activities at Gedabek in Azerbaijan, but management believe through increased working hours and continuous improvement in work output, the project can achieve the targets set for the remainder of the year.

Volex's revenue in the 16 week period from 30 March to 20 July was 14.8% (12.0% at constant exchange rates) ahead of the same period last year and it returned to operating profitability after the modest operating losses incurred in the second half of last year. Power Products continues to trade strongly and revenue increased by 17.5%. Wiring harness sales rose by 15.2% but its operating losses are at a similar level to the second half of last year.

Chocolate and confectionery maker Zetar saw profits last year fall from £5.79m to £4.76m on sales up 17% to £111m. The figures were knocked by £0.9m costs associated with acquisition The Baked Snacks Company. This year, group sales are up by 13% to £14m in the first eleven weeks. Zetar added that despite the challenging environment it is confident it will continue to make progress in the current year.

Business software solutions firm Touchstone said current year performance is ahead of last year and broadly in line with expectations. The group saw pre-tax profit for the year to March fall to £1.7m from £2.6m previously on turnover that rose 4% to £31.4m.

Media intelligence group Thomson Intermedia saw pre-tax losses widen to £1.8m in the year to end-April, from £0.2m the year before, after the group took a £1.5m hit in respect of capitalised development costs relating to discontinued projects.

Underlying pre-tax profit was unchanged at £1.8m, however, on total revenue that advanced 8% to £17.2m.

Carpet retailer United Carpets saw revenue increase 8.3% to £21.2m in the year to 31 March, with like-for-like sales up 9.1%.

Pre-tax profit jumped 46.8% to £1.5m from £1.03m, while underlying pre-tax profit, which excludes goodwill impairment and exceptional items, rose 20.8% to £1.7m from £1.4m a year earlier.

Since the end of the reporting period sales have grown 7.8% on a like-for-like basis.

The company is recommending a final dividend of 0.55p, making a total of 0.825p for the year, up from 0.75p last year.

“Although cautious, we remain optimistic about the future and believe that our strategy of steady expansion in store numbers, value for money offering, innovative product ranges, proactive sales strategies and improved quality of customer service will form the base for our ability to continue to deliver satisfactory growth in the coming year,” said Paul Eyre, chief executive.

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