Shares in Scottish media group STV raced ahead to fresh six-year peaks in our 2012 portfolio last week as buyers scrambled to find the next takeover candidate after industry leader ITV was put in play by Rupert Murdoch.
The speculators believe the Glasgow-based group, with a stock-market value of less than £150 million, represents a tempting morsel in any move for further media sector consolidation after Murdoch offered £80 billion for Time Warner and the owners of MTV paid £450m for Channel 5. ITV is widely expected to attract an £8bn offer early next year after the American Liberty group bought a strategic stake from BSkyB.
Close followers are not convinced by the latest gossip, but believe STV shares are still undervalued at their higher price ahead of a trading update from the company next month.
The majority of our other share tips staged a rally after the turbulence of the past few weeks, with three of our four portfolios gaining ground.
Only the 2011 selections disappointed with a small overall fall after profit-takers moved in on jeweller Signet after its good rise and Stagecoach slipped back after losing out in the chase for London's Docklands Light Railway franchise.
Our latest 2014 portfolio perked up with a 1.2% gain following a jump in the price of energy-efficient lighting group Dialight and a recovery in the price of Marks & Spencer on thoughts that the company could follow the example of Tesco in forcing management changes on any further trading disappointments.
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