Market Report: Taking Stock

Spring Ram, the bathrooms and kitchens group, firmed 1.5p to 14.25p as chairman Roger Regan, called in four years ago to pull the loss maker around, picked up 1 million shares at 13.5p, almost doubling his stake. The group may edge into the black this year and a recent pounds 15m Leeds property sale, which will cut borrowings, should help. Five years ago the shares nudged 140p.

Victrex, the chemical group, survived sell advice from stockbroker Sutherlands, little changed at 235p. With the Far East representing 10 per cent of sales the broker expects another "flattish" year

Building materials group Lilleshall rose 10p to 82.5p after Knox D'arcy Trust, the management group interested in special situations, picked up at a 4.67 per cent stake.