Market Report: Taking Stock

It's been a go-go time for Johnson Fry's two utilities investment trusts, known in the market as one and two. In three months assets per share have grown from 125.95p to 132.53p for the JF number one trust and from 116.96p to 123.78p for the second trust. Shares of the two have responded, with the first trust up from 75p in August to 113p and the second going from 65p to 103p. The response this week to the utilities tax should add to the JF windfall.

Amid yesterday's mayhem Brent International, the chemical group, attracted some intriguing deals. The shares climbed off their 12-month low, gaining 4p to 74p. On trading considerations they seem underpriced and a bidder could be tempted.