STOCK WATCH

TECH quality assurance firm SQS Software Quality saw its shares rocket more than 54pc after a German rival made a £281.3m bid.

The firm has agreed to be taken over by Weilchensee 884, a German company formed by Assystem Technologies. The rationale for the move is to create a global business combining SQS’s quality assurance and consulting business with Assystem’s engineering product design.

SQS’s shares rose 54pc, or 285p, to 812.5p.