Shares: Taking Stock

ACORN Computer, 4p firmer at 140.5p, is contemplating distributing its 25 per cent shareholding in the ARM computer chip maker to its shareholders.

ARM came to market last month. The shares fell 17.5p to 795p; they have closed as high as 870p.

The ARM shares could be worth as much as 120p per Acorn share. Acorn has lost money in its last three full years and was pounds 1.1m in the red in its last interim report.

SUPERFRAME, an engineer, gained 3p to 23p. Expect corporate developments soon. There are suggestions it will buy an engineering group in what will amount to a reverse takeover.

On Friday the company reported profits up from pounds 137,000 to pounds 206,000 and said it traded profitably in the first three months of this year although "the strength of our order book is still not at a level of total comfort".