Updates from Spire Healthcare, HellermannTyton and Tritax Big Box

Yet another shock for the FTSE 100 on Thursday, taking it to 6,367.8. That means the Board has fallen more than 10% from its 7,122 high in late April. Mondi and Prudential were the two heaviest fallers, down 3% and 2.8% respectively (to 1488p and 1472p). TaylorWimpey shares also came under pressure, down 2.7% to 198.50p. Better news for miners with RandgoldResources and Fresnillo both up 5.8% and 5.6% to 4255p and 684.50p.

Stateside, the Dow plunged close to 360 points - its worst fall for 18 months - dragging it to 16,990.6. Worries on the Chinese economy and oil price volatility - US crude could fall below $40 it's now thought - all contributed to distressed values. A long way from the Dow's 18,312 high on 19 May.

We start with half-year numbers to 30 June from Spire Healthcare. Revenues increased 7.8% to £449.8m (H1 2014: £417.2m) with adjusted earnings up 8.0% to £83.4m (H1 2014: £77.2m). Adjusted earnings per share comes in at 9.4 pence per share, up 19.0% on H1 2014.

Spire claims it has invested £37.6m (H1 2014: £71.9m, including its St Anthony's Hospital acquisition) and grew in-patient and daycase discharges by 8% to 138,000 patients (H1 2014: 128,000 patients).

However Spire warns that recent actions "taken in response to the NHS Trusts' estimate of aggregate deficits for 2015/16, we recognise that there may be some near-term weakness in NHS demand over the remainder of this financial year."

Next, cable management supplier HellermannTyton. For the six months to 28 June revenues were up 18.6% at reported rates. There was underlying earnings of €52.3m up 5.9% in constant currency (up 15.3% at reported rates) and operating profit of €45.3m (H1 2014: €40.9m)

Each of its geographic segments showed strong revenue growth in constant currency HellermannTyton claims. There's an interim dividend of 3.09 cents per share payable in sterling at 2.2 pence a share.

"The Group," says boss Steve Salmon, "has produced strong revenue and profit growth in the first six months of 2015. Our Americas and Asian segments have performed particularly well, and order intake was ahead of sales in each of our geographic segments."

Finally real estate investment trust Tritax Big Box says its investment properties have been valued at £1.09bn as at 30 June 2015 (including forward funded commitments), representing an increase of £114.8m, or 11.7% rise.

The portfolio's rental income increased to £58.87m per annum (30 June 2014: £20.84m) while the dividend totalled 3p per share putting the trust on track to meet its stated 6p per share target for 2015.

"We believe," says chairman Richard Jewson, "that the balance of occupational supply and demand should remain favourable for landlords, leading the Group to continue to be confident of strong rental growth in the near term."

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