STOCK WATCH

ELECOSOFT, a producer of software used to build skyscraper The Shard, announced yesterday that it was buying Shire Systems for £6.3m.

The AIM-listed company helps architects, engineers and construction workers visualise projects and evaluate their cost. It ended the day up 9.9pc, or 7.5p, at 83p.

The Shire deal moves it beyond project-planning into plant, equipment and building management software, which broker Finncap said was a ‘very natural progression’.