Market Report: Taking Stock

Thistle Hotels, where there is talk that a major shareholder, Brierley Investments, is decidedly unsettled by the weak share price, held at 153.5p. Charterhouse Tilney rates the shares, floated at 170p last year, a sell. Analysts Melanie Sharp and Andrew Burnett say although the hotel market is at its strongest since the late 1980s Thistle has a sizeable exposure to some of the least favourable segments. They see profits of pounds 78.5m this year and pounds 88m next. Brierley has 46 per cent of the capital.

Save, the old Frost group, seems to be bidding to become the market's favourite takeover stock. The story of a bid was going the rounds again yesterday with the shares firm at 101p. An oil major is the favourite to pounce.