SCI ENTERTAINMENT, the computer games developer at the centre of drawn-out bid discussions, came away with the worst fall in the FTSE 250 as a controversial financier who has been a long-term investor sold most of his stake.

Robert Bonnier, a former investment banker and former chief executive of Scoot.com, made waves last April as he closed out a series of contracts for difference (CFD) positions, triggering sharp share price falls at SCi, Regus, Domestic & General and The Innovation Group.

SCi was on the slide again yesterday as Crédit Agricole, a counterparty to CFD transactions, placed a block of 4 million shares, or a 5.7 per cent stake, at 475p, a near-10 per cent discount to the opening price. The beneficial owner was said to have been Mr Bonnier, who is thought to retain some 3.6 per cent. The sale is said to be prompted by Mr Bonnier’s desire to participate in a £50 million fundraising for Future Internet Technology, up 3½p to 44p, the cash shell seeking telecoms deals in the US, in which he holds 14 per cent. SCi, where Chicago’s Midway Games is seen as the front-runner in bid talks, dropped 36p to 489p, against a 13.6 rise in the FTSE 250 to 8,969.2.

Other heavily traded stocks included DS Smith, up 2p to 172p as a line of 7.3 million shares changed hands at 170¾p, and Freeport, the shopping centre owner, 13¼p better at 468¾p, where the placing of a line of 2.5 million shares, or 6.6 per cent, at 430p prompted talk that Jack Petchey’s Trefick was booking profits.

After Thursday’s termination of bid talks, Computacenter bounced 18¾p to 260p as Deutsche Bank moved from “hold” to “buy”, citing the scope for the return of cash through share buybacks or a special dividend. Woolworths weakened 1¼p to 31½p as Citigroup repeated its “sell” advice and 30p target in the belief that two of the retailer’s three businesses show “serious structural pressures ”. A debut “buy” recommendation from Bridgewell Securities lifted Blacks Leisure 10½p to 510p.

RM put on a further 5¼p to 175½p on a positive response to presentations last week at the school IT market’s trade show in London. Earlier this week, Brewin Dolphin repeated its “strong buy” advice and 200p target. Plexus Holdings rose 11¼p to 104p on winning a contract from BP in Egypt. Aero Inventory gained 21½p to 472½p on a £92.3 million fundraising to strengthen its balance sheet.

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