The firm said on announcing interims last week that it intends to "exploit the volatility in the market to attract clients and staff to Numis in order to create long-term value for our shareholders". Of course, the group is not immune to the effects of the credit crunch. It revealed a £2m drop in first half pre-tax profits, to £16.1m, and a slowdown in fee income growth.

With a strong balance sheet, Numis is worth a look for plucky investors, with shares at 190p.

IP Group – the firm that helps universities to commercialise intellectual property – last week announced that one of its nurtured investments, Revolymer, has secured a further round of fundraising, to the tune of £10m.

It seems the investment is fast turning into its star portfolio performer, given that it claims to have invented a revolutionary form of non-sticky chewing gum that could save authorities in Britain and around the globe the millions in removing the trouble substance.

The news suggested that there may well be mileage in IP Group, despite its share price languishing at just over £1, currently at 105p. There had been fears that its companies may find it hard to survive in the current trading conditions, but it is proving that results can be achieved even in turbulent times if there are good ideas to be marketed.