TAKING STOCK

o There is talk in the holiday business that Airtours is near to forging a link with Richard Branson's Virgin group. The word is that they are planning joint holiday deals, probably to the US and perhaps Australia and South Africa. At a time of over-capacity, when many operators have cut back, a Virgin deal could offer Airtours new scope for growth. The shares gained 10p to 371p.

o Bula Resources sticks miserably at 2.25p although its ventures in the former Soviet Union appear to be making headway. Its Libyan exploration - funded by Occidental Petroleum - is also thought capable of producing rewards. The company has recently attracted two big supporters, Capital International and Morgan Grenfell, each with 7.6 per cent.