The combination of a positive cash flow and an ungeared balance sheet has helped medical instruments group XRF Scientific to combat slowing demand in the mining and exploration sector. Shares in the group soared on Wednesday after it posted a 140 per cent lift in first-half profit to $900,000. XRF said its results eclipsed those booked in the prior corresponding period and boasted that all core operating segments performed at or above budgeted profitability for the period. Despite acknowledging that its growth rates for the full year were unlikely to be sustained, the group said it was on track to reaching its earlier guidance of a 25 to 30 per cent lift in net profit in 2009. The continued expansion of market share is expected to bolster sales in the coming year, largely due to XRF's keen focus on research and development. In late October, the group staged a one-for-three rights issue at 5¢ each in an attempt to raise $1.2 million.