Taking Stock

Rage Software was the day's best performer, jumping 2.5p to 6.75p, highest since May. The shares touched 25p two years ago. A deal with Compaq, the world's largest PC maker, created the excitement. A shortened version of Rage's latest computer game, Incoming, is to be bundled in Compaq units. The full version will be sold through retailers.

Merrill Lynch has put a 210p target on Hazlewood, a supplier of own label convenience foods, particularly chilled lines. It expects profits to hit pounds 41m, up from pounds 37m, this year and then reach pounds 45m. The shares are 185p; they were just over 100p in June.

Proteus International was little changed at 83.5p. SuperValu, the Irish supermarket chain, says its beef sales have risen 10 per cent since it started using Proteus' BSE detection technology.