The morning news update with Smiths Group, JD Sports and Cello

FTSE 100

Smiths Group (SMIN) – pre-tax profits down by 11% at £445 million in the year to July, dividend increased by 2% to 40.25p per share.

FTSE 250

Imagination Technologies (IMG) – the overall financial position remains robust and the Board is confident that the Group’s progress will continue in line with its expectations.

JD Sports Fashion (JD.) – pre-tax profits up by 170% at £16.45 million in the 26 weeks to 2nd August, dividend up by 3.4% at 1.15p per share.

IG Group (IG.) – Revenue in the first quarter was £85.6 million, 9% behind the same period in the prior year, hit by volumes and volatility close to historic lows and the continuation of recent weakness in forex activity.

Small caps

Transense Technology (TRT) – halves operating loss to £1.2 million in the year to June.

Northern Petroleum (NOP) – posts an operating loss of $4 million for the six months to June.

Cello Group (CLL) – headline profit before tax up by 26.4% at £4.4 million in the six months to June, interim dividend up 25% to 0.80p per share.

Metals Exploration (MTX) – update on Runruno gold-molybdenum project. Planned commissioning of the processing plant now expected in Q2 2015 due to late delivery of final engineering drawings.

Town Centre Securities (TCSC) – net assets up from 267p per share to 308p per share over the year to June, underlying pre-tax profits up by £0.2 million at £7.6 million and total dividend unchanged at 10.44p per share.