Market report: Taking Stock

Chemical Design, floated at 110p in August, held at 155p. The developer of data-based software for the drugs industry has landed a contract with Abbott Laboratories, a leading US group, and a collaborative research deal with Metacrine, a New Jersey start-up company. Robin Lodge, chairman of the DCS computer services group, has become non-executive chairman.

Nearly a quarter of the shares of Ofex-traded Barnham Broom, an East Anglian hotel company, have changed hands. The stakes held by SPP Ventures and the old British & Commonwealth Holdings have been sold to clients of stockbroker Henderson Crosthwaite and the Sunley family. John Gunn, formerly at B&C, is chairman of Barnham, which expects record profits this year. It made pounds 411,000 last year. The shares held at 48p.