Shares in high-tech instruments maker Oxford Instruments soared as it forecast underlying interim profits would hit at least £10m.

Research markets continue to benefit from strong demand, while industrial markets, which had been hard hit by recession, have now seen demand return to pre-recession levels, it said.

Executive recruiter Norman Broadbent bounced back into a profit of £974,000, (£660,000 loss), in the half year to June, aided by a £822,000 disposal gain. Revenue dipped a little to £3.26m. "We have returned to profitability and now have the financial resources available to expand our operations both in the UK and overseas," it added.

Investment company Henderson Financial Opportunities, which invests in financial companies, said it outperformed its benchmark over the third quarter thanks to its greater exposure to stocks in emerging markets, especially banks in South East Asia and Russia.

Net asset value per share at the end of August edged up to 39.19p from 39.11p at the end of May. Gearing, defined as total assets dividend by net assets, over the same period eased to 1.23 from 1.37. Equity gearing fell to 91.15 from 112.16.

Town Centre Securities' NAV bounced back in the year to June as it uprated its portfolio by £25.4m. Net asset value per share rose to 269p (2009: 202p) with the triple net asset value per share at 306p (2009: 264p). "I believe there will be income and investment management opportunities for us to build on our solid foundations in the new financial year although the outlook for rental income and capital growth is relatively flat", it said. The dividend for the year is 10.36p (2009: 8.15p).

EMIS Group, which provides software used in doctor's surgeries, is in an optimistic frame of mind despite the spending cutbacks being seen in the NHS.

In its first set of results since its March flotation the company reported profit before tax of £6.69m in the first half of 2010, versus a profit of £5.77m the year before. Revenue grew to £29.02m from £28.94m, with the share of recurring revenue rising to 81% from 74% a year earlier. An interim dividend of 5.6p has been proposed.

Related share prices
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) share price
Town Centre Securities (TCSC) share price
Norman Broadbent (NBB) share price
Henderson Financial Opportunities Ltd. (HFO) share price
EMIS Group (EMIS) share price