Small caps round-up: Software Radio, Providence, Arden...

2nd Nov 2010 14:25

Software Radio Technology, the developer and supplier of maritime identification and tracking technologies, returned to the black at the halfway point as turnover virtually doubled.Profit before tax in the six months to 30 September was £1.1m on turnover of £4.42m, compared to a loss of £0.20m last year on revenue of £2.28m. Gross margin improved to 48% from 36% the year before. Shares in Providence Resources jumped after the Irish oil and gas explorer said data from a study of its Dalkey Island exploration prospect of the east coast of Ireland 'revealed the presence of a potential direct hydrocarbon indicator.'Stockbroker Arden has reversed its loss warning of October after a couple of big deals came through in the meantime. Arden now expects a small net operating profit post £800,000 exceptional items but before charging IFRS 2, share based payments. "The board believes that this will be a satisfactory result given difficult market trading conditions. The business has been cash generative for the year and at 31 October 2010 the company had strong cash balances and regulatory capital," it added.UK property investor Standard Life Investment Property Income Trust said it will pay a dividend of 1.1p in the third quarter, unchanged from the preceding two quarters. Burford Capital, the commercial dispute investor, said that investing activity was well ahead of schedule with more than 80% of the funds raised through the company's flotation on AIM a year ago already invested. More than $40m in new capital commitments across six investments have been made in the last three months, including a short duration investment funded and fully resolved since the end of July that provided an annualised return in excess of 300%.Judicial success in another investment has created the likelihood of further gains in the future; enforcement of the current judicial decision would yield at least a 100% return on capital, the company said.