Small-cap spotlight

SHARES in N Brown, the online clothing retailer behind brands including

SimplyBe and JD Williams, slid 16% today after it reported a sharp fall in half-year profits amid deteriorating trading conditions. Product revenues were down 9.4% in the quarter to August 27 and the Manchester-based business expects a similar rate across the second half of the financial year. Interim profits were 82% lower at £4.3 million, driven by prior year comparatives in its financial services division, but the company still expects an improvement in its debt position over the year. The AIM-listed shares fell 3.7p to 20.6p