TAKING STOCK

o Casket, the cycle to textile group, dipped 1p to 13.5p as the market continued to fret about forthcoming results. The group's expected disposal is now thought to be the textile division. The suggestion is the figures may be delayed a few weeks while the final touches are put to the sale, which is expected to produce more than pounds 10m for Casket, eliminating debts. Annual profits are expected to be poor - around pounds 300,000 against pounds 3.6m.

o Continental Foods held at 68p as Henderson Crosthwaite said it had "virtually completed the transformation from a struggling video company to a more robust snack food and soft drink group". The broker expects profits to surge from pounds 360,000 to pounds 1.4m this year with pounds 2.2m next. It forecasts dividends of 3.5p and 4p. as well as increasing institutional support.