TAKING STOCK

Shire Pharmaceuticals advanced 6p to 247p after an upbeat progress report on its treatment for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The news came in the interim results of a major ongoing Phase II study presented at a key international meeting in Japan. Shire also reported "significant progress" by all its other businesses since flotation in February.

Data Systems International was requoted 17p lower at 138p after its reverse takeover of Standard Platforms, the loss-making document imaging group. DSI, which trades as Action Computer Supplies, intends to concentrate on selling information technology products through mail order and recently signed a pounds 5m deal with local authorities worth about 5 per cent of annual turnover.