TAKING STOCK

r Pan Andean, a tiddler seeking oil and gas in Bolivia, is said to have lined up an impressive partner for its Ixiamas development. One name in the frame is the US oil group Murphy. The AIM-traded company has already linked with BHP, the Australian giant, for its other Bolivian venture, the Chapare block. A progress report, likely to be encouraging, is expected shortly on Chapare. The shares are 17.25p. They have touched 18.5p and been as low as 12.75p.

r Robert H Lowe, a packaging, printing and sportswear group rescued by David Sebire, is acquiring Majoca, a corrugated paper business, for pounds 2.2m in shares and a further payment of up to pounds 2m. It is Lowe's first significant deal since it was restructured last year. The shares rose 2p to 17p.