Renewed speculation about a Tony Pidgley-led management buyout of Berkeley Group boosted the housebuilder by 24p to 626p.
Rumours suggested a buyout worth 750p a share. Pidgley is said to feel frustrated at the current low rating of the group.
Other stocks in the sector generally fell, such as Barratt Development, down 3.25p to 386p, McCarthy & Stone, down 6p to 310.5p and Westbury, 2p lower at 282.5p.
References: The Guardian 14/02/03 page 29 (Market forces), The Times 14/02/03 page 32 (Rumour of the day), The Daily Telegraph 14/02/03 page 38 (The Market), The Independent 14/02/03 page 24 (Market Report)
