Commonwealth Gold improved 3p to 13.5p on the fringe Ofex market after a banking consortium offered a 10-year pounds 4.4bn facility for developing mineral assets in Liberia. In July CG, an arm of the South African Amalia Corporation, signed a deal with the Liberian Government which gave it access to the country's mineral resources, ranging from gold to offshore oil. The consortium could eventually acquire a 25 per cent stake in the venture. CG arrived on Ofex in April at around 40p a share.

Bickerton, a building contractor, has won contracts worth around pounds 3.6m for educational buildings. The group, operating in public and private sectors, held at 43p against a 40p April placing. It is expected to make profits of pounds 825,000, up from pounds 232,000, this year.