LONDON (ShareCast) - Shares in human tissue and drug discovery services supplier Asterand jumped nearly 60% after it nearly moved into profits following a surge in revenues.

Pre-tax losses narrowed to £53,000 from £970,000 as revenue climbed to £5.1m from £3.6m.

“Our solid revenue growth of 43% has been driven by strong demand for our products and services from the drug discovery market,” chief executive Martyn Coombs said.

Drug group Ark Therapeutics posted higher revenues and narrower losses in its interim results, reporting strong progress across its range, which covers vascular disease, cancer and wound care.

Pre-tax losses narrowed to £10.1m from £11.3m, while revenues climbed to £412,000 from £245,000.

Online sales helped second-hand retailer Cash Converters report a sharp rise in revenues and profits and the company said it was set to continue opening stores in the UK and Australia.

Revenue in the six months to 30 June climbed by more than 50% to A$74.4m from A$46m the previous year. Pre-tax profits climbed to $21.6m from $16.7m.

“Some stores now attribute 30% of weekly sales to online sales and this is expected to grow through the next year,” the company said.

Chime Communications and many of its fellow PR and marketing firms have not felt the effects of any downturn in the economy, the company said as it reported sharply higher revenues and pre-tax profits.

Activities including the promotion of the London Olympics and government anti-binge drinking campaigns helped Chime post profits of £8.2m in the six months to June 30, from £6.4m a year previously, as revenues climbed to £115.5m from £94.8m.

Printing firm Communisis’s focus on value products and reduction in factory inefficiencies helped it more than triple pre-tax profits in the half year to June 30 to £8m.

“The key to continued strong performance, economic conditions notwithstanding, is to ensure we expand our range of capabilities further up the value chain,” chief executive Steve Vaughan said. Revenues climbed to £148m from £146m.

UK marine services provider James Fisher said organic growth from its marine support divisions of offshore, specialist technical and defence produced good growth despite a disappointing start from the marine oil division.

Pre-tax profit for the half-year rose 19.2% to £13.1m on revenue that was up 28.9% to £114.1m. Interim rose dividend was up 12.1% to 4.36p.

Supermarket packaging group Polymer Logistics lost a quarter of its value Wednesday after it slumped into a half year pre-tax loss of €1.87m versus a profit of €692,000 last year despite a 21% hike in revenue to €21m.

“Whilst we expect revenues and profitability from our pool business (accounting for 80% of group revenues) to be in line with market expectations, the economic slow-down combined with increases in raw material and transport prices has negatively impacted our sales revenue and overall profitability,” said chairman Zvi Yemini.

“We expect the bottom line outcome for the year to be significantly below market expectations.” The interim dividend has been scrapped.

Online betting and gaming group Leisure and Gaming moved into the black during the six months ended 30 June, posting a pre-tax profit of €1.3m versus a €1.5m loss in 2007.

“Results for the first half are marginally ahead of expectations and we are currently on-track to meet the full year forecasts,” said boss Richard Creed.

Drug developer Protherics has started a phase 2 proof-of-concept study of Prolarix for the treatment of primary liver cancer. Results are due in the second half of 2009.

“If the results from this study are positive, a licensing partner will be sought for Asia where the incidence of this type of cancer is highest,” said CEO Andrew Heath.

Personal debt consultant Relax Group, formerly Debts.co.uk, expects results for the year ended 31 July 2008 to be in line with market expectations.

Boss Paul Carter said: “We continue to look at ways of further developing the group both organically and by acquisition and are confident of a satisfactory outcome in the current year.”

Adjusted profit before tax fell over 14% at car dealer Lookers to £15.5m in the first six months of 2008 on revenue up 18.2% to £1.04bn thanks to the Dutton Forshaw acquisition.

CEO Ken Surgenor said the more turbulent macroeconomic environment had hit the firm’s new and used car businesses in May and June. “The board anticipates the full year results to be in line with the lower end of market expectations.”

China-based mobile phone retailer EBT said it faced a number of challenges in the first half of 2008 and adjusted its aggressive expansion programme to focus on operational improvements.

“These efforts produced a much improved operating margin in the first half as well as providing a solid base for future progress. EBT is on track to generate a modest adjusted profit for the full year,” it said.

Pre-tax losses narrowed to RMB676,000 (Chinese yuan) versus RMB9.87m losses posted last year. Revenue was down 5% to RMB302m.

• News Channel