MARKET REPORT

LUXURY chocolate maker Hotel Chocolat enjoyed a sweet debut on the junior Aim market as its shares rocketed 42p to 190p after a placing at 148p which raised £12million to grow the business. Telecoms services provider Toople.com rang up a 1¼p rise to 9¼p on its market debut after raising £2million through a placing at 8p.

Leisure and technology investment firm Yolo eased 0.05p to 1.05p as Saracens rugby club chairman Nigel Wray increased his stake from 18 per cent to 28.

A reassuring trading update underpinned Bovis Homes 4p to 887½p. It bucked a downturn in housebuilding where Taylor Wimpey and Berkeley Group fell 3¾p to 180¼p and 41p to 2943p.

Musical instruments and equipment online retailer Gear4Music hit a 3½p higher note at 134½p as annual adjusted operating profit jumped 138 per cent to £895,000 on 46 per cent higher revenue of £35.5million.

Financial advisory and investment management group Tavistock was 1.2p richer at 5.45p as it flagged annual results ahead of market expectations.