Company News in Brief

Torday and Carlisle, the specialist engineering group, cut pre-tax losses from pounds 634,000 to pounds 353,000 in the six months to 30 June. The company said the loss arose as a result of the difficulties at Oldham Signs, the sign-making business it is still trying to sell. No dividend.

Astec (BSR), the electrical and communication equipment maker, rose from pounds 2.7m loss to pounds 2.2m pre-tax profit in the half year to 30 June, despite a drop in turnover from pounds 134.2m to pounds 124.4m.

Macfarlane Group increased pre-tax profits from pounds 4m to pounds 4.55m for the half-year to 30 June. Interim dividend is 1.88p.

Flogas, the liquefied petroleum gas company based in Ireland, has made Ir pounds 7.2m (Ir pounds 6.7m) pre-tax profit for the year to 31 May. Final dividend is 4.98p, making 7.92p (7.41p).

Gartmore Value Investments' net asset value per share was slashed to 10.4p (27.4p) as at 31 July. Dividend is raised to 0.9525p (0.925p) for the first quarter.