I would like to issue the following statement on the stories that circulated this past weekend: During the past few months I have become accustomed to reading more and more ludicrous stories regarding my private life. The simple truth is that I am married, and whether I like it or not, have a perfectly acceptable wife and two very special bottles of Bollinger Côte aux Enfants.

I hope that, dear readers, stops your rather naughty speculation. To be a celebrity construction analyst in this media age is such a burden on one's shoulders …

Thank goodness for my private champagne club. Without these little bubbly-fuelled dinners, I'm not sure whether the pressure would be just that bit too much. Even there, though, I have been subject to heavy scrutiny.

I was quite enjoying a glass of Dom Perignon '95 when one industry wag turned on me, declaring that I ramble on in this column without getting to the meat-and-two-veg of share prices. I shall prove this bounder wrong. Perhaps next week …

Anyway, engineering group Hyder Consulting fell 8.5% to 128.5p.

This follows the acquisition of Sydney-based Adamus Consulting Practice last month. Although well down on the company's year-high of 164.5p, it is still more than three times its 12-month low.

The big question on the lips of many of the chaps and chapettes in the City has been: will Aukett's share price benefit from the installation of the new management? The answer thus far appears to be "no", with the country's only listed architect falling 5.3% to 4.5p by close of play Friday.

A positive trading statement for Wimpey last week. Expect its share price to be on the up-and-up

Hunch of the week

A support services group with a bit more of a smile on its face is plant hire group Speedy Hire. Speedy Hire – or "Gonzalez", as I like to call it – whizzed 0.8% to 432.5p, less than 13p off its best price of the year.

I do like the Countryside, dear readers, and so does the City by all accounts. Those nice Cherry fellows at Countryside PROPERTIES enjoyed a tasty 0.6% rise last week to 275.25p. This was on the back of its announcement of a joint venture with Bank of Scotland, giving it access to £120m for large mixed-use projects.

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