Shares: Taking Stock

ON AIM, Albemarle & Bond firmed 2.5p to 55p. The pawnbroking group recently saw its Texas rival Ezcorp take a 29.96 per cent stake - just below the level requiring a formal bid. Albermarle executives are meeting their US counterparts over the Easter weekend to find out what their intentions are.

FOUNTAIN Forestry dropped 6.5p to 161p on AIM. The shares, floated at 75p late last year, had soared to 187.5p earlier in the month helped by the fact that they qualify for reinvestment tax relief. However the imminent abolition of the tax break has prompted investors to rethink the stock's merits.

STRIPTEASE club operator Cherokee Leisure, quoted on Ofex, is opening an outlet in Birmingham. The club, to be called Cherokee at Club 64, will open its doors to punters on April 3. Cherokee already has two other clubs. The shares eased 2p to 19p.