TAKING STOCK

o Stanelco, a stock market oddity, produced one of the day's best gains, up 0.25p to 0.75p. It announced profits of pounds 1,000 against a loss of pounds 160,000.

The little thermal processing group is under the wing of corporate financier Christopher Mills who is looking for a business to inject into what is a classic shell operation. But Stanelco, once a property business called Merchant Manufactory Estate Co, has been seeking a buy for a long while.

Past investigations have been costly.

o Bridport Gundry, the technical textile maker, rose 14p to a 130p year's high, reflecting a 20,000 agency cross.

The group is due to report year's results soon and the market is looking for further strong growth with a 50 per cent gain to pounds 1.2m expected.