Consultant Baqus has reported a 23% fall in pre-tax profit from £472,000 to £365,000 in the six months to 31 December 2008

Turnover rose by 8% from £3.68m to £3.98m. The QS also announced that it was in advanced talks to buy a rival consultant with a turnover of between £1m and £3m. Its order book slipped 23% from £10.1m to £8.2m.