Taking Stock

Cash Converters, the second-hand shops chain, rose 3p to 18.5p after two executives each acquired a third of founder Brian Cumins' stake, giving each of them holdings of around 10 per cent each. The rest of the Cumins' shareholding will be placed. The company now has 375 stores in 16 countries. Since coming to market last year the shares have fallen from 31.5p.

It's getting near to crunch time for Emerald Energy. In the next week or so the fate of its first Colombian drilling venture could be known. There were some suggestions the next report will be favourable, lifting the shares 0.75p to 6.25p.

Cementone could be near its first buy, expected to be a media deal. The shares rose 4.5p to 67.5p.