RESILIENT third-quarter figures from 888 Holdings prompted a fresh wave of buying of online gaming operators.

With last month’s third-quarter update from PartyGaming providing a degree of reassurance after September’s weaker-than-expected growth projections, yesterday’s statement from rival 888 — which reported a 178 per cent year-on-year increase in poker revenue — helped to extend that momentum. The beneficiaries included Sportingbet, up 9½p at 304p, and NETeller, 21p better at 710p. However, it was Empire Online that stood out with a 7p rise to 115½p, assisted by talk of fresh takeover interest. Sportingbet and PartyGaming are still seen as the obvious suitors. 888 shed 4½p at 166p.

The FTSE 250 gained a further 66.0 at 7,777.1, with Woolworths adding 1p at 32½p as rumours of private equity interest were revived in the aftermath of Monday’s bid bonanza. Chaucer Holdings gained 3p at 56¼p as the placing by KBC Peel Hunt of 12.7 million shares, or a 4.3 per cent stake, at 54p served to clear a stock overhang. The seller was the rival BRIT Insurance Holdings, up ¼p at 84¼p, whose holding stems from its days as an investment trust.

Luminar, the bar and nightclub operator, lost 3p to 482p on whispers that a fresh attempt to sell its entertainment division may have faltered. It took the business — which includes the Jumpin Jaks and Chicago Rock Café chains — off the market in July after failing to attract high enough offers, but in recent weeks was thought to have entered exclusive talks with Jon Moulton’s Alchemy Partners.

Spice Holdings rose 5½p at 218p as Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein moved from “add” to “buy” after recent weakness. DS Smith gained 6p at 142½p as UBS highlighted the positive effect of packaging price rises.

Datacash Group, the online payment processing specialist, held steady at 111¾p as Investec Securities placed 3.05 million shares, or a 6.8 per cent stake, at 111p with Standard Life, after institutional presentations in Edinburgh last week. The sellers were said to include Fidelity, which has revamped its portfolio after a change of personnel, and DataCash executives Gavin Breeze and Jane Reedy, who disposed of 800,000 apiece.

Turbo Genset firmed ½p at 13½p on signing a high-speed motor drive deal with an unnamed capital equipment manufacturer worth at least $12.5 million (£7.1 million).

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