Shares: Taking Stock

Alpha Airports, the in-flight caterer and airport services group, climbed 9p to 113.5p. Year's figures are now expected on Friday and there is speculation Mohamed Al Fayed, head of Harrods, is planning to increase his 25 per cent stake, which cost 125p a share in November. He is free to bid next month and with the intense activity in the airline support industry may decide its time to pounce. Profits are expected to emerge at pounds 22m.

Flying Flowers, the mail order company, soared 40p to a 327.5p high after chairman Walter Goldsmith told shareholders profits were still blossoming and would be ahead of market expectations. Russell Kerr at house stockbroker Beeson Gregory promptly lifted his forecast from pounds 5.1m to pounds 6.1m. Last year the group achieved pounds 3.9m.