Market report: Taking Stock

A SOARAWAY day for Security & General Media, the publishing minnow which changed its name from Serif last November. Its shares more than doubled on news that legendary small company stockbroker Colin Blackbourn had taken a 4.49 per cent stake. Earlier this year Mr Blackbourn made a killing from bombed-out Tadpole Technology, where he watched shares bought at 10p increase almost fivefold. Later, directors John Gulliver and Phillip Davies announced they had bought 50,000 shares at 22p. The two now control a 24.26 per cent stake.

THERE'S blood on the rhododendrons. In a note entitled "War of the Roses" stockbroker Merrill Lynch gives its view on quoted garden centre operators. It rates Country Gardens, up 14p to 244.5p, as a buy but is neutral on rival Wyevale, 1p better at 354.5p. There's no mention of AIM-quoted Dobbies Garden Centres, down 20p to 375p.