Steady China

Ceramic tableware maker Churchill China said it expected to achieve forecasts for 2005 profits after a 'satisfactory' sales performance and an improvement in costs following the use of overseas manufacturing sites.

Churchill, which was set up in 1795, now has two sites in Stoke after outsourcing manufacturing to China and Colombia.

Books growing

Specialist business publisher Centaur Holdings expects its end of year results to show "further growth" and to trade in line with expectations in 2006. Revenues in the six months to December 31 were roughly 7 per cent ahead of the same period in 2004, when it reached £31.6m.

German Noddy

Brand creation and management business Chorion announced a deal to bring children's classic Noddy to 32 million homes across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The agreement with television station Nickelodeon Germany entitles it to screen 100 episodes of the computer animated series Make Way for Noddy.

Swedish deal

Mobile phone giant Vodafone confirmed the sale of Vodafone Sweden to pan-Nordic telecoms operator Telenor for £704m.

Highbury sale

Consumer and business publishing firm Highbury House Communications has been put up for sale following the departure of former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie as chairman and chief executive.

Islamic Bank

The Islamic Bank of Britain - the UK's only totally Islamic bank to operate in accordance with Sharia's principles - has opened the doors of its first North West branch in Manchester.