TAKING STOCK

o The quaintly named Po Na Na chain of late-night bars is the toast of Nigel Popham, drinks analyst at stockbroker Teather & Greenwood. He believes the shares, traded on the fringe Ofex market, are on a too cautious rating at 15p, up 2p. He sees profits this year jumping from pounds 33,000 to pounds 400,000, with pounds 820,000 likely next year. The company, which is related to fully quoted Grosvenor Inns, has seven bars with North African themes, with another to open soon in Edinburgh.

o Courtyard Leisure looks interesting. The shares climbed 1.5p to 17.75p on indications margins at the wine bar business are improving. Robert Earl, creator of Planet Hollywood, has a 3.25 per cent stake and Lomond Investment, running the Drum & Monkey bar chain, has 29.9 per cent.