SQUARE MILE RUNS UP THE LEAGUES

The recent trend among clients to move their business to some of the smaller PR firms in our league has reversed somewhat this term, with some of the major players able to stem the flow.

The most significant development is Square Mile's leap of four places to second in the number of clients league table. It managed a remarkable 31 new clients these past three months. This is not some miracle in its ability to acquire clients. Instead it has has chosen to amalgamate Fleet Financial Communications in the combined group's figures. Square Mile manages 31 AIM listed companies, the most among any financial PR firm and can count AIM tech stocks easier, Netvest.com and Rexonline among its clients. Its closest rival in this respect is Buchanan and College Hill, each advising 18.

The huge divide between the bigger and smaller firms is clearly demonstrated by the gap between the top and bottom of the aggregate client profit table. Toast of the blue chip community, Brunswick consolidated its top position with its clients turning in a £1209.7m increase. Poor old College Hill is again rooted to the bottom of the league. Its clients were £15.6m down this quarter, leaving it £399.7m in the red. Having heavy loss making companies Old Mutual, Premier Oil and Fortune Oil on its books does not help. Elsewhere, Buchanan and Square Mile flipped places, with both firms' clients increasing their figures, it was Square Mile who emerged slightly better.

Binns & Co, the champion of the last six months, has finally been beaten in the two growth tables. Citigate Dewe Rogerson can now lay claim to advising the fastest growing companies. Its 79 clients (the fifth largest in the client list) have helped it come first in both the fastest growing profits and shoot up in the all important earnings per share league.

Recent developments in the stock market, most notably an uncertainty about tech stocks, will undoubtedly mean the City's image-makers will have their work cut out.