TAKING STOCK

o Rumours in the food industry suggest Dalgety is near clinching the sale of its Golden Wonder pot noodles business to CPC, the US food giant. But the rest of Golden Wonder is, it is said, proving more difficult to unload and Dalgety, some suspect, may decide to hold on to the operation, Britain's third-largest crisp maker. Dalgety decided to sell the Golden Wonder businesses and its Homepride flour and sauces subsidiary to help pay for the pounds 440m acquisition of Quaker Foods' European petfood interests. Dalgety, due to meet analysts next week, shaded to 443p.

o African Gold, the Irish group, has raised pounds 450,000 through a private share placing at 2.5p, with a Bermuda company taking a 9.8 per cent stake. The company plans to join Aim.