The Food & Drink Group, owner of Jamies wine bars in London and Henry J Beans, fell 112½p to 98p after it warned that costs for the year would be higher than expected, resulting in profits of just £600,000. It said its full results would be late because the finance director has been on compassionate leave since mid-December.

The rising price of milk and the ending of European Union dairy subsidies claimed a victim in Gold Frost, the maker and distributor of kosher dairy food. A profit warning sent its shares down 5¼p.

Character Group, the merchandiser of Scooby-Doo and Dr Who toys, rose 9p to 81p after it said revenues should perk up in the second half after disappointing Christmas sales.

H&T, the UK’s biggest pawnbroker, gained 3p to 202½Clinphone’s clinical trials technology helped it to jump 9¾p. It said full-year results should be ahead of its budget.

Directors buying shares helped Assura Group, the investor in primary healthcare property, rise 4¾p and Asite, the data logistics firm, gain ¼Metalrax, sent the engineer’s shares up 2¾p after ousting the finance director and saying he could raise cash by quitting underperforming businesses and releasing value from properties.

Victoria Oil & Gas, chaired by Kevin Foo, rose 2p to 24¾revealed<NO>that the other company Mr Foo runs, Celtic Resources, had built a 4.5 per cent stake, prompting talk of a merger. Celtic is being stalked by Russia’s Severstal.

Insurer Just Retirement rose 11p to 98p on institutional buying after a “buy” note from Panmure Gordon.

Best of the Best, which runs competitions at airports to win cars, soared 8p to 47½following<NO>strong interims.

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