Traders bought into the prospect of a full takeover offer for Alpha Airports as Autogrill, the Italian motorway services operator, said it had taken its stake to just shy of 30 per cent.

Shares in Alpha, which provides inflight meals and runs shops in airports, put on 6¼p to 100½p after Autogrill bought a further 17.4 per cent stake in Alpha at 100p a share, to take its holding to 29.9 per cent. If it were to increase its holding further it would need to make an offer for all the shares.

Autogrill said yesterday that it was considering its options. However, analysts reckon a formal offer is a near certainty.

Aggreko rose 28p to 593¾p after the temporary power provider said its first-half results would be materially higher than the same period last year, underpinned by strong growth in its international business.

FKI closed unchanged despite announcing after the close of trading on Thursday that it had received an offer approach that would value shares in the group at about 130p. Traders speculated that a deal could be potentially lucrative for any buyer, ensuring a deal, if done, would be done at a premium to the level indicated.

Carluccio’s ended 5½p higher at 220p on confirmation that Richard Caring, the retail entrepreneur, has increased his stake in the restaurant chain to just over 5 per cent.

Biofuels Corporation rose 4½p to 14¼p after the green fuels group confirmed that it had secured extra backing from its bankers.

Yoo Media, the interactive gaming company, gained 0.12p to 1.02p after expanding its television gaming portfolio.

White Nile, the oil exploration group backed by Phil Edmonds, the former England cricketer, picked up ½p at 109¼p on rumours that it will be granted more than 25 per cent of a contested block in South Sudan, well ahead of the 15 per cent expected.

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