Taking Stock

MARKET REPORT

rCadcentre, the engineering software group which came to the market at the tail end of last year, closed 10p poorer at 235p, after Robin Lee, a director, sold half of his shareholding. Mr Lee, who wanted the money to plan for his retirement at the end of next year, offloaded 450,000 shares at 235p each. 3i, another big shareholder in Cadcentre, also sold 150,000 shares to "several institutions".

rInvestors were supping up shares in Surrey Free Inns, the AIM-quoted pub group, after the company outlined plans to spend pounds 10m opening 10 new branded pub outlets. The stock leapt 16p to close at 426.5p, amid whispers that the company was about to be bid for. Pre-tax profits for the group, which is due to join the full market in September, jumped 93 per cent to pounds 2.3m in the year to the end of May.