Shares: Taking Stock

London & Edinburgh Publishing held at 6.5p. It has had a tough time since it arrived last year at 10p; missing its prospectus profit forecast and then going into the red. But the arrival of John Webber as chairman and David Ellingham as his deputy promised better times. On Christmas Eve came the first outward sign of action. L&E is raising pounds 90,000 by selling shares at 6p and is in talks to buy another company.

Barbican Healthcare is paying pounds 2.15m for two dental businesses, Corporate Dental Services and M Spencer-Swaine. Its shares added 2p to 44.5p.

A share buy-in by financial group BWD Securities. It purchased 5.03 per cent of its capital at 121p a share. The price rose 1.5p to 120p.