STOCKWATCH

CompUSA

Shares of retail giant CompUSA were hit on 1 April after the retailer warned that third quarter net profits and turnover would be impacted by higher than expected costs and lower PC prices. In early trading, CompUSA's shares were down 4 3/8 to 21 3/4, a fall of 17 per cent. CompUSA said higher costs related to its direct mail operation meant it was now expecting revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter ended 28 March, compared to revenue of $1.27 billion for the comparable period a year ago.

4Front Technologies 4Front Technologies, parent of UK networking storage distributor 4Front Group, reported a fourth quarter net profit of $939,000 to 31 December 1997 against losses of $3.3 million last year, on turnover up 37 per cent to $25.3 million. In the 12 month period, net profit was at $3.7 million against losses of $2.3 million in 1996 on turnover of $84.2 million. 4Front Technologies is quoted on the US stock exchange, Nasdaq.

Dialog Dialog, the online business information services provider formerly known as Maid, has posted a net loss for the year to December 1997 of #20.8 million, up from a loss of #2.2 million last time. Turnover rose to #46 million and the figures include an #18.5 million restructuring charge related to the acquisition of Knight-Ridder Information last year.

Vision Group Vision Group, the Scottish camera chip vendor, saw an interim net loss of #2.6 million against profits of #121,000 in the period to January.

Turnover slumped 43.3 per cent to #4.1 million.

Videologic Group Shares of Videologic Group Plc were subject to heavy trading, following speculation that it would sign an agreement with Sega Enterprises to supply a 3D graphics chip for the Japanese vendor's imminent games console. On 1 April, up to 790,000 Videologic shares were traded on the London Stock Exchange, closing down one and a half pence at 63.5p.