Market report: Taking Stock

Shares in printer Hunters Armley climbed 2.5p to 106p on the back of upbeat comments from David Bird, the chairman. He told shareholders at the group's annual meeting that first-quarter demand remained buoyant while the second quarter had started well. All five operating units had shown encouraging growth, he said. Last week Hunters appointed Charterhouse Tilney to replace Panmure Gordon as its brokers. Charterhouse expects Hunter's profits to reach pounds 3.8m in the year ending September.

The curiously named Waterfall Holdings, the AIM-listed operator of pool and snooker halls, nudged a penny higher at 74p. It has paid pounds 451,000 for two new Cue sports clubs in Birmingham and Gloucester and the freehold of a site in Reading.