Judges Scientific warns of extended low order trend

Judges Scientific, the acquisitive scientific instrument group, has warned investors full year profits could be in danger as bookings have not picked up after their usual slow seasonal start to the year.

In March the AIM-listed buy-and-build company said order bookings, as in the previous two years, had been low over the first ten weeks of 2016.

"However, as of today, 20 weeks into the current financial year, unlike the previous year we have not seen a pick-up in order bookings.

"This will negatively impact our interim results and, should the trend continue, has the potential to affect the group's performance for the year as a whole."

Shares in Judges were down 18% to 1,496p by 1500 BST on Wednesday.