Market report: Taking Stock

MINMET fell from its 10.5p peak to 9.5p despite an "encouraging" report from its gold-seeking 78.73 per cent owned offshoot, Crediton Minerals, on prospects at its Devon exploration. Results of work in the Crediton Trough area showed "further evidence of elevated gold values over a wide area". The site, it was said, had close similarities to Czech deposits where gold had been mined for hundreds of years. CM, traded on the fringe Ofex market, fell 3p to 33.5p after an early jump.

BTG, the old British Technology Group, hardened 11p to 702.5p ahead of figures today. There are hopes of positive developments at its Torotrak gearbox subsidiary. One possibility is a licensing deal with a major car maker. Talk is also in the air that BTG may disclose when it plans to demerge Torotrak, a move which could highlight the group's other operations.