Market Report: Taking Stock

Robert H Lowe, the packaging and sportswear group, remains unloved with its shares bumping along at 22.25p, against 30p a year ago. Charterhouse Tilney suggests a re-rating is due. It is looking for profits of pounds 5.08m this year and pounds 5.45m next.

Pickquick, offering a computerised product to help golfers improve their game, is raising pounds 500,000, offering shares at 150p on a one-for- 12 ration. It has signed an endorsement agreement with golfer Ernie Els. The shares closed on Ofex at 207.5p; they arrived in July at 20p. From a pounds 451,000 turnover last year Pickquick made pounds 19,000 profit.

What's in a name? S Jerome & Sons (Holdings) will ask shareholders today to change its name to Jerome Group. In anticipation shares of the textile group jumped 6.5p to 49p.