Bad weather checks growth at Jennings.

PUBS operator and brewer Jennings Brothers today reported a 5.8% rise in revenue to [pounds sterling]9.58 million.

The company said its pretax profit was up 9.1% at [pounds sterling]1.79 million for the first half of the year. It blamed heavy rain in the second quarter for a slump in sales growth from 10% to just 1.9% compared with the first quarter.

AIM listing pushes PlusNet into the red

INTERNET service provider PlusNet saw revenue rise 65% to [pounds sterling]20 million during its third quarter, on robust takeup of broadband services.

But it made a net loss of [pounds sterling]1.8 million after taking into account [pounds sterling]1.8 million in costs associated with its listing on AIM. Broadband customer numbers rose 123% to 77,657.

Martha Stewart's appeal plan

US style guru Martha Stewart, now serving a five-month jail sentence, plans to argue in her appeal that her rights to cross-examine her former stockbroker were violated as he was not called to give evidence. A damaging taped interview with codefendant Peter Bacanovic was played during the trial.