NSB Retail, the maker of checkout till software for retailers and a one-time dot-com darling, jumped 8½p to 32p after it received a bid approach.

Jessops, the struggling camera retailer, recovered 1.54p to 9.14p after it posted results showing that its sale slide is continuing but that costs are a fifth lower. Philip Dorgan, of Panmure Gordon, said: “We remain convinced that the business has a sustainable future.”

SMC, the architectural group, fell 2¼p to 8¼p after it gave warning that it would need to take a £800,000 write-down on work in progress and was in advanced discussions over a rescue fundraising.

Huveaux, the owner of Letts study guides, dropped 3p to 23½p after it said takeover talks had failed. FDM Group, the IT services business, gained 14½p to 125p on a strong trading update, with continuing strong demand from financial clients. Renovo Group, the maker of scar treatment drugs, lost 43½p to 126½p after flaws in its Phase II trial for mole removal, although the final trial is still on track for next year.

Land of Leather lost 33¾p to a 115p low, below its float price, after gloomy housing data. The company gave warning last month that trading was difficult and that everything depended on good January sales. Johnson Services also reached a new low, declining 7p to 34½p as investors fretted over whether a rights issue would save the company.

Northgate Information Solutions lost another 8½p to 63p despite revealing a possible takeover offer yesterday. Analysts at Numis said that they were still concerned about it breaching its covenants if trading worsened, despite Northgate’s denials.

Kiwara, the Zambia-based miner, unchanged at 25½p, is said to be about to hire a new nonexecutive with local mining knowledge and to transfer exploration rights.

Scotty Group, the designer of video telecoms equipment, jumped 0.125p to 0.85p on strong full-year results.

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