Small caps round-up: Amphion, Bioquell, Ablon...

Shares in Amphion Innovations jumped after the medical and technology sector said it was cautious but confident in the strength of its model following a year which saw revenue increase to $8.6m from $7.1m in 2008, but losses increase to $2.9m from $1.8m.

Shares in Bioquell moved in the other direction even after the bio-decontamination technologies and compliance services specialist posted a rise in revenues and profits, helped by the continuing drive to keep infections out of hospitals.

Pre-tax profits in 2009 climbed to £5.9m from £5m the previous year as revenues rose to £39.9m from £34.4m. 'In 2010 we anticipate increased international demand for Bioquell's world class technology to combat 'superbugs' in hospitals,' said chairman Nigel Keen.

Wealth management group Brooks Macdonald paid a maiden dividend of 3p after seeing pre-tax profits rise to £2.47m in the six months to January 31 from £1.26m over the same period the previous year. Revenues climbed to £16.39m from £9.65m.

Shares in Clean Air Power fell back after full year results from the developer of combustion technology for diesel engines demonstrated that green technology companies have not been immune to the economic downturn. Revenues fell to £5.79m from £6.47m the previous year. Pre-tax losses widened to £2.4m from £2.3m.

Central and East European-focused property group Ablon lost £30.9m in 2009 as the value of its portfolio fell sharply. Its adjusted net asset value per share was EUR2.43 at end 2009 as shareholders funds fell from EUR239m to EUR210m.

"We firmly believe that Ablon Group remains well positioned to benefit from an economic recovery in CEE, thanks to its high quality and well located real estate portfolio as evidenced by the scheduled opening in April 2010 of its 235 room Marriott Courtyard Hotel in the heart of Budapest," it said.

Mobile text specialist Synchronica has been informed by a customer that as a result of that customer being involved in acquisition discussions it cannot sign off on a Mobile-Gateway order before March.

Because of this, revenue in 2009 will fall from an expected £5.1m to approximately £3.8m with a projected adjustment of £1m to the results for the year. The company added it has now received the first purchase order from the distributor for its new MessagePhone in Latin America worth $203,000.

Vitamins and supplements provider Neutrahealth received a pick-me-up in the form of positive reaction to its 2009 results.

Although the company said profits were in line with expectations the AIM-listed tiddler's like for like revenue increase of 4.2% over 2008 levels caught the eye.

Revenue grew to £4.6m in 2009 from £28.9m in 2008 while profit from operations and one off items climbed to £1.45m from £1.21m. Profit before tax more or less halved to £1.14m from £2.21m in 2008 when profits were fattened by a £3.38m profit on disposal of a subsidiary.

Systems biology company Physiomics is to provide silico simulations to support cancer drug developer Sareum's joint research programme with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT).

Physiomics will use its modelling expertise in biological processes to simulate the effects of cancer drugs in living systems. The work will take around three months to complete and will be funded from the proceeds of a commercial deal for the molecule.