Just in time for somebody’s Christmas stocking, the AIM-listed Petra Diamonds revealed the sale of the 99.43 carat diamond recently unearthed at its Sedibeng mine in South Africa for just over $1.3 million (£655,000) – or $13,125 per carat. The stone is the most valuable in the company’s history, but could not stop the shares slipping 2½p, to 144½p. Petra said it is looking forward to 2008 “with great confidence”.

Also on AIM, Sanatana Diamonds closed 35p higher, at a record 125p, after it unearthed 536 diamonds, each bigger than 0.106mm. It said it was highly encouraged by initial results at the Greenhorn project in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Imprint, the owner of Morgan McKinley, a recruitment consultancy that specialises in banking, gained more than 13 per cent after it agreed to be acquired by Hydrogen for £45.7 million in cash and shares.

Imprint gained 11½p, to 97p. Last month, the firm had recommended an offer of £41.4 million from another rival, OPD. Harvey Nash, another recruitment company, gained 1p, to 54½p, on a positive trading statement.

Tellings Golden Miller, the bus and coach operator, gained 10p, or nearly 33 per cent, to close at 40½p after it said it had agreed to a takeover by its larger rival Arriva. The 45p-a-share all-cash deal values Tellings at £10.3 million, a near 50 per cent premium to Wednesday's closing price.

Randall & Quilter, an investment company created to buy insurance companies in run-off, closed at 137p after raising £31 million through Numis Securities at 125p. This valued the company at £70 million.

Solar Integrated Technologies gained 10½p, at 97p, after wining a £70 million Italian contract to supply integrated photovoltaic installations - or roofing solar panels. The deal is one of the biggest in the sector announced so far in Europe, analysts said. The company also raised £14 million through a share placement at 85p.

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