Market report: Friday close

IT WAS full steam ahead today for modelmaker

The company has developed a range of steam-powered model trains that look certain to be a big hit with the kids, their dads and the anoraks.

The rest of the market traded in a narrow range with the FTSE 100 index up 8.4 at 4257.2 despite the fact Wall Street opened lower on the back of worse-than-expected US employment figures.

Shares in budget airline easyJet rose 4 3/4p to 258 3/4p after August traffic data showed its planes were fuller. EasyJet carried almost twom passengers in the peak holiday month, taking its load factor up to 88.1%. Rival Ryanair climbed 9 1/2p to 460p.

Airports operator BAA is also enjoying a resurgence, leading the top 100 companies higher with a rise of 12 1/2p to 470p. Word is that last Sunday was a record for the number of aircraft flying in and out of Britain.

AstraZeneca put on 58p to 2650p after Deutsche Bank upgraded from hold to buy with a 3150p target price. Broker Prudential-Bache says AZ is on a roll. Deutsche also raised Johnson Matthey, up 16p at 1021p, setting an 1126p target price. BP slid 6p to 441 1/2p. UBS Warburg has downgraded it from buy to neutral, retaining its 475p target.

US securities house Goldman Sachs has taken a shine to Centrica, 5 1/4p better at 182 1/2p, and raised its target price from 202p to 234p. Royal & SunAlliance slipped a further 6 1/2p to 128p in the wake of yesterday's discounted rights issue to raise £960m.

E*Trade Securities has downgraded the insurer from hold to sell while JP Morgan has downgraded from overweight to underweight.

AIM-listed Ask Central firmed 1/2p to 154p in heavy turnover of 21m shares. This included six delayed trades totalling 16.53m shares that went through at 148p.

Former Matalan boss Angus Monro is 'cautiously optimistic' there are better times ahead for his pipe-fitting venture Oystertec, up 3 1/2p at 16 3/4p, after cost-cutting put it in the black in the first half. Despite poor European sales, the group - founded by controversial entrepreneur Paul 'The Plumber' Davidson - posted operating profits of £1.5m against losses of £1.3m 12 months ago.

Caledonia Investments advanced 32 1/2p to 972 1/2p as the argument about splitting it up intensified. Dissident investors say restructuring would maximise shareholder value. But the Caledonia board and controlling Cayzer family reject this.