TAKING STOCK

Shares of Burn Stewart, the Scotch whisky group, bump along around their low at 69.5p. They were floated at 140p five years ago. There is vague talk of takeover action, although the depressed state of the spirits market could deter predators. Britannic Assurance and Dutch group Erven Lucas Bols each have around 10 per cent.

Photobition, supplying services for exhibitions, should lift profits pounds 1.4m to pounds 4.3m this year and hit pounds 5.8m next, believes stockbroker Teather & Greenwood. The shares are 339.5p.

Investors in computer group Xavier must have dreamt of riches. The shares surged 966 per cent to 117.5p, according to the market screen. "A technical mistake," said chairman Allan Harle. The price was stable at 11p.