STOCK WATCH

OIL explorer Cluff Natural Resources had the wind knocked out of it yesterday as it announced it was considering raising funds.

Cluff, which wants the extra cash to help it develop ten oil and gas blocks it has acquired in the North Sea, did not say how much it planned to raise through the new equity issue.

A spokesman added Cluff was only ‘considering the merits’ at the moment.

But this was enough to send its shares down 16pc, or 0.4p, to 2.1p yesterday.