Water technology investment outfit Modern Water said it continues to make good progress across all aspects of the business.

The group said plans to install a proving plant for its desalination technology in Gibraltar are on track and the plant should be operational by mid-2008.

"Modern Water's strong cash position leaves the company well positioned to take advantage of investment opportunities and we continue to receive a high level of interest from third parties," the group added.

Software broadcaster Nasstar narrowed first half pre-tax losses and said its sales pipeline gives the board confidence in the group's growth potential for the second half of the year and beyond.

Pre-tax losses came to £117,000 in the six months ended 31 March from a loss of £243,000 last time. Turnover increased 100% to £1m.

Miner Leyshon Resources has substantially upgraded the resource estimate for the Zheng Guang gold zinc project in Northeast China, though the level of gold estimated has been reduced.

After a survey from Hellman and Schofield, the overall resource has been increased by approximately 25% from 24 to 30m tonnes. Gold deposits are estimated 1.16m ounces, down 4%, but silver has been upgraded by 20% to 4.5m ounces and zinc by 30% to 120,000 tonnes.

Online payments group Earthport is to set up a number of regional offices starting with the US. The sales office will be structured as a joint venture called Earthport USA Limited with the company retaining majority ownership.

Early signs indicate that the first twelve months revenue from Earthport USA Limited will exceed $2m, the statement said. Offices are planned for Australasia and the Pacific Rim as well as the Middle East.

International Marketing & Sales has agreed an aggregated credit facility of $15m with Fortis Bank to fund acquisitions.

"This is the first facility IMSG has entered into for the purpose of acquisitions. We have a pipeline in excess of $100m and this facility will allow the company to fund more material acquisitions, in line with our strategy for growth in emerging markets," Greg Thain, chairman and chief executive, commented.

Fuel cell membrane maker PolyFuel reduced net losses for the year ended 31 December to $8.5m from $9.7m last time on revenues of $1.4m compared with $184,600 previously.

"With market demand continuing to grow for longer runtime portable power sources, we believe PolyFuel is positioned to be the leader in providing the industry with the products, tools and designs to commercialise portable fuel cell technology," said chief executive Jim Balcom.

Secora expects pre-tax profit for the year ended 31 March to be ahead of forecasts thanks to the non-recurring profit from the sale of the company's remaining holding in Premier Exhibitions.

Production has resumed at Uruguay Mineral Exploration after a union blockade was lifted on Saturday, but full year production is now expected to be down 2,500 ounces to 92,500 ounces.

Pre-tax losses grew to £5.25m at Sierra Leone diamond and gold miner Target Resources in the year to 31 October 2007 as it only generated revenue of £412,175.

But chairman Freddy Hager said the firm is on track to deliver its mining plan and maximise the full potential of its leases. The group had cash balances at the year end of just over £6m.

Tracsis, which provides labour resource optimisation software to the transport sector, boosted half year revenue by 5% to £271,000, although pre-tax profit fell to £32,000 from £123,000 due in part to £89,000 of costs linked to last November's AIM float.

Direct marketing specialist Digital Marketing's profits will beat expectations in the year just ended, boosted by cross referrals across the group's businesses. Digital added it remains confident that it can sustain high levels of organic growth in 2008/09.