International angle is key to Scots businesses

Hospital billing specialist Craneware said it would report a 34 per cent boost in revenues and a 30 per cent increase in operating profits ahead of its final results today. Analysts have calculated that the firm will show full-year revenues of around £23.2 million, while underlying profits will come in at £6m. In its interim statement in July, the firm heralded two “substantial” sales deals to hospital groups in Florida, adding that it had £64m in new contracts coming in over the next three years, despite pressure facing US hospital budgets. Chief executive Keith Neilson has said he expects the number of employees globally to double to around 440 over the next three years, while Scottish-based staff will rise above 100. Edinburgh-based online dating website operator Cupid publishes interim results today and markets will be looking for details of how its recent acquisitions are performing. The company has seen its share price quadruple since it launched on the Aim last year and has bought a string of foreign websites to launch its software platform into new markets. In June, the company expanded into Germany, following a similar move into the French market, with shares hitting an all-time high of 250p, valuing the company at just over £200m. The growth prompted analyst Paul Morland at house broker Peel Hunt to upgrade his full-year pre-tax profit forecast to £14.9m from £14.5m. Last week Cupid splashed out £500,000 on a number of Brazilian dating sites, and it now operates in 39 countries. Office provider Regus should post higher first-half profits today, although it is likely to say global economic turbulence is still taking its toll. The company, whose customers include small business people through to corporate giants like GlaxoSmithKline and Google, has faced tough markets in the US and Europe as economic turmoil has hit demand for office space. But the group, which was founded in Brussels in 1989 and is based in Luxembourg, has been keen to stress its global presence in 89 countries and growth prospects in emerging markets in Asia and elsewhere. In May, it reported trading in line with its expectations, higher revenues and said it had continued to make progress despite a muted economic backdrop. Analysts are tipping Regus to report pre-tax earnings before interest of about £12m on average, up from £9.3m a year ago, with Numis expecting a slightly better £14.2m. Broker Numis is expecting a modest improvement in office occupancy levels, but said the main focus for improvements was on pricing.