TAKING STOCK

Hanover International, the hotel group being created by Peter Eyles, former chief of the Norfolk Capital hotel chain, returned to market following the acquisition of six hotels for pounds 40m. The shares, suspended at 150p, traded at 130p against the 124p at which they were placed to help fund the deal.

The six hotels were owned by an arm of Compagnie Bancaire, which repossessed the properties during the recession. Before the takeover Hanover, which came to market last year, had just one hotel, the Imperial at Cork.

John Tams, the dinnerware and mugs group, shaded to 59p, although Greig Middleton rates the shares, yielding 8.2 per cent, a buy. It sees profit climbing to pounds 1.6m this year and just over pounds 2m next.