SHARES AND MARKET REPORT: MARKET MOVERS

Centrica 245.25p (up 6.25p, 2.6 per cent). Value bid talk drives the stock higher.

BHP Billiton 680.5p (up 14.5p, 2.2 per cent). In demand ahead of full-year results next week.

Regus 104p (up 5.5p, 5.6 per cent). Takeover hopes push shares in the office space group higher although analysts remain sceptical that such a scenario will come to pass.

Egg 119p (up 2.5p, 2.2 per cent). Traders bet that Prudential will soon sell the company.

Cobra BioManufacturing 45p (up 9.75p, 27.7 per cent). Secures pounds 3.6m deal with a US biotechnology group.

Univent 52.5p (up 6p, 12.9 per cent). Says it plans to cancel its AIM listing after getting the green light from shareholders.

Morrison Supermarkets 214.75p (up 6.25p, 3.0 per cent). Dealers report heavy institutional demand for the stock.

Gallaher 853p (up 16p, 1.9 per cent). Rumours of a bid for the company from Japan Tobacco propel the stock higher.

SMG 109.5p (up 5.25p, 5.1 per cent). Reports that the company has received a bid for Virgin Radio from a consortium led by Lord Waheed Alli excite.

Serco 250p (up 5.5p, 2.2 per cent). Secures a pounds 400m contract from the Ministry of Defence.

Dream Direct 64.5p (up 2p, 3.2 per cent). Robert Silver steps down as chairman.

Tikit Group 163.5p (up 15.5p, 10.1 per cent). Unveils the purchase of ResSoft in a deal worth pounds 2m.

Huveaux 54.5p (down 11.5p, 17.4 per cent). Warns that its full-year profits will not meet hopes.

Volex 78.5p (down 9.5p, 10.8 per cent). Says its full-year profits will come in at the bottom of the current market range.

Uniq 165p (down 17p, 9.3 per cent). Says that its pounds 100m pension deficit had caused almost all potential buyers of the company to abandon their interest.

Dairy Crest 430p (down 14p, 3.2 per cent). Citigroup sells 1.9 million shares on behalf of a client.