STOCK WATCH

■ BELVOIR, the property franchise group, is adding to its financial services capacity with a £3.7m swoop for The Time Group.

Mortgage service provider Time turned over £4.2m in the last financial year and booked a pre-tax profit of £630,000.

The acquisition, which will be immediately earnings enhancing, brings on board 64 mortgage advisers taking Belvoir’s total to 307.

The City liked the deal with shares yesterday up 4.1pc, or 10p, at 255p.