Market report: Taking Stock

Jarvis, the construction group, raced to another peak, up 7.5p to 179p. The shares have climbed from 19.5p in the past 12 months. The group has been chosen to build the first school under the Government's private finance initiative. It will maintain the property, Colfox School at Bridport, for Dorset County Council and provide catering and cleaning services. The contract runs for 30 years and its total value is estimated at approaching pounds 100m. Jarvis, run by Paris Moayedi, acquired a British Rail maintenance company in June.

Tea Plantations Investment Trust, planning to buy into mainly unquoted plantation businesses in Sri Lanka, has raised more than pounds 6m by placing, through English Trust, shares at 100p. Warrants, on a one-for-five ration, were attached.