Taking Stock

Waverley Mining, down from 116p this year, rose 5p to 60.5p, largely on hopes Montague, the gold miner where it has a 49 per cent interest, is about to start legal action against Bre-X, which has an estimated $21bn gold field in Indonesia. Bre-X is linking with Barrick, the Canadian giant, to develop the site. Montague sold the Indonesian land to Bre-X and retains a royalty involvement.

Tradepoint, the fledgling rival to the Stock Exchange, had its best day yet, achieving a pounds 32m turnover. Lloyds Abbey Life was the main element accounting for nearly pounds 22m of the turnover.

Frederick Cooper, the door handles group, rose 5p to 40p. Newman Tonks, fighting a bid from FKI, has 4.19 per cent, and Cooper could find itself in play.