Market Report: Taking Stock

Two new issues on Ofex got off to a flying debut. Key 2, a CD- Rom publisher, finished the day at 55.5p, up 35.5p on its opening price. The company publishes multimedia training CD-Roms for Mac and PC platforms. Zarara Oil & Gas, meanwhile, an independent oil and gas exploration company based in Jersey, ended the day up 4.5p at 24.5p.

Acorn Group, the computer company, is beginning to climb at last on the strength of its stake in Arm, a microchip company. Acorn added 5p to 143.5p after optimism about a US flotation of Arm, in which it has a 43 per cent shareholding. A successful float would do Acorn wonders, as its share price has recently been hovering around a two-year low.