STOCK WATCH

Computer 2000

Computer 2000 has revealed that its pre-tax profit has more than doubled compared with last year, despite its turnover increasing by only 1.5 per cent. C2000 managing director Graeme Watt claimed sales for July were up 43 per up on last year.

Cisco

Cisco has achieved sales of $8.459 million, an increase of 31 per cent, and net income of $1,879 million for the year ended 25 July. The vendor also announced a three-for-two stock split.

Electronics Boutique

Shares in Electronic Boutique rose by one pence last week when the retailer issued a statement revealing it had traded well ahead of the same period of 1997 and in line with expectations. The company attributed its performance to the release of Electronic Arts' World Cup 98.

CHS Electronics

CHS Electronics reported a net income of $20.3 million and sales of $1.8 billion in its second quarter ended 30 June. The figures compared with $6.4 million net profit and turnover of $947 million for last year. As of 30 June, the distributor had cash in hand of $81.9 million.

America Online

AOL has beaten analysts' expectations when its fourth-quarter income climbed more than 10-fold. For the quarter ended 30 June, net income was $57.3 million and revenue increased 73 per cent to $792.3 million.

Racal Electronics

Racal Electronics reported one of the biggest losses for a UK manufacturer when it announced a loss of #207 million due to the cost of offloading its troublesome data communications arm. The loss included a #233.9 million exceptional write-off from the sale and reorganisation costs of #14.7 million.

Dialog

Shares in business data company Dialog, formed by the takeover of KnightRidder Information by UK company Maid in October 1997, rose almost 30 per cent last week as it revealed plans to refocus as a consumer and e-commerce group. A planned e-commerce arm will launch a purchasing system, which will allow corporate customers to buy IT kit via intranets.

 BIGGEST MOVERS THIS WEEK
 CLOSING PRICE (change)
 Company           Wednesday           Thursday             Friday
 Compel            443.5     (-17.5)   444       (+0.5)     444      (=)
 Computacenter     710       (-15)     705       (-5)       701      (-4)
 Dixons            542       (-12.5)   530       (-12)      539      (+9)
 Misys             2760      (-96)     2700      (-60)      2712     (-12)
 Pegasus           364.5     (-5.5)    365       (+0.5)     365      (=)
 Sage              1612.5    (-65)     1655      (+42.5)    1652.5   (-2.5)