Market report: Taking Stock

Nord Anglia, the education group, jumped 39p top a 319p peak, after buying a New Zealand college. The shares arrived a year ago at 140p, falling to 132.5p before starting their surge. The company should be a beneficiary of the Government's privatisation plans for failed schools. Stockbroker Henry Cooke Lumsden is bullish. It forecasts profits of pounds 2.7m this year with pounds 3.1m slotted in for the following year.

Aukett Associates, a building design practice, improved 0.5p to 5.5p as directors, including chairman Gerry Deighton, purchased 300,000 shares. Stockbroker Ellis & Partners forecast earning per share will increase from 0.56p to 0.71p this year.

Robert Earl, the restaurant tycoon who runs Planet Hollywood, has cut his stake in Pembertons, the wine bar chain, to below 3 per cent. The shares held at 17.25p.