Revenue at QVC, which primarily operates a television network that pitches products for consumers to buy by phone or the Internet, rose 15% vs. last year, helped by hefty U.S. sales of apparel and accessories.

The net loss narrowed to $107 million, or 4 cents a share, versus $314 million, or 11 cents a share, a year ago.

Revenue jumped about 12% to $2.02 billion, beating the average analyst projection of $1.85 billion.

Alliant Energy Corp. (LNT) posted 2Q loss from continuing operations of $9.8 million or 8 cents per share, vs. income of $34.0 million or 30 cents per share in the corresponding period last year. Analysts forecasted earnings of 27 cents per share. Quarterly operating revenue jumped to $699.9 million vs. $599.7 million last year. The company revised its fiscal 2005 earnings from continuing operations outlook, including items, to $1.10 - $1.35 per share, while analysts project $1.78 per share.

Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. (ALY) posted 2Q net income attributed to common shares that jumped 369.2% to $1.8 million or 12 cents per share, versus $377,000 or 5 cents per share in the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue for the quarter surged 106.5% to $23.6 million vs. $11.4 million in the year-earlier corresponding quarter.

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PRW) posted a 2Q net loss of $1.69 million or 6 cents per share, vs. a net loss of $1.40 million or 6 cents per share for the same quarter last year. Research and development expense for the quarter totaled $831 thousand, or a 59% jump, versus $522 thousand for the same period a year ago.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (HOV) said Friday that its 3Q dollar value of net contracts, including unconsolidated joint ventures, rose 34.8%, while the number of net contracts jumped 16.6% compared with the same quarter a year ago. The sales value of contract backlog at July 31, 2005, including unconsolidated joint ventures, rose 55.7% and number of homes in contract backlog climbed 33.3%.

ProspEx Resources Ltd. said that its 2Q net earnings rose to C$1.83 million or 121% compared with 2Q the prior year. The company posted earnings per share of C$0.03 per share for the quarter. Oil and gas revenues totaled C$7.45 million, up 16% vs. 1Q total revenue of $6.4 million, mainly due to increased production and stronger commodity prices. ProspEx expects that 4Q production would average 2,400 to 2,600 boe/d. The company plans to be drilling about 20 additional net wells in 2005.

Century Casinos Inc. (CNTY) reported Thursday night its 2Q net earnings of $509k or 4 cents per share versus $1.15 million or 8 cents per share in the year-earlier quarter. The total earnings from operations for the quarter were $877k, down vs. $1.86 million last year. For the quarter, the company's net operating revenue jumped to $8.91 million vs. $8.85 million in last-year’s quarter. Analysts had seen the company to post earnings of 8 cents per share on revenues of $9.90 million. For the six-month period, Century Casinos posted net earnings of $1.52 million or 11 cents per share, down vs. $2.05 million or 15 cents per share in the comparable quarter a year earlier. Net operating revenues climbed 6.6% to $18.14 million versus $17.01 million in the corresponding 2004 period.

Dynatec Corp. posted 2Q net earnings of C$2.6 million or C$0.012 per share, versus C$1.4 million or C$0.007 per share in the year-ago comparable period. The earnings from continuing operations for the quarter amounted to C$2.7 million, up vs. C$1.0 million in last year. Quarterly revenues jumped to C$45.7 million vs. C$37.7 million in the year-ago period.

Redwood Trust Inc. (RWT) reported 2Q core earnings, excluding items, of $37.8 million or $1.50 per share, vs. $37.0 million or $1.74 per share in the same quarter a year earlier. Quarterly net interest income jumped to $53.2 million vs. $47.6 million in the year ago corresponding quarter.