We were left feeling frustrated on Friday when the much-heralded flotation of over-50s insurance and holidays group Saga proved something of a damp squib for thousands of small investors.

We had applied for a nominal £2000 worth of the shares for our 2013 portfolio but were allocated just £740 and were further disappointed when the price managed only a tiny premium in early stock market trading.

It was a far cry from last year's Royal Mail flotation when the share price jumped 38% by the end of the first day's trading.

But Saga advisers reckon they have done a far better job for the company and its longer term prospects on the stock market by favouring its existing customers and major financial institutions at the expense of market speculators.

We still believe the share price will record a reasonable gain in the coming weeks.

Most of our other share tips did little more than tread water last week, although fuel distribution group DCC shares shot up more than £2 after a reassuring trading statement and jewellery group Signet sparkled with a similar gain ahead of its merger with a US rival.

However, Marks & Spencer continued to slide after its lack-lustre trading figures, while recent strong performers Dialight and Smart Metering Systems ran into profit-taking, reducing the total value of our 2014 portfolio by just more than 2% over the week.

We were also disappointed by a further slip in Argos stores group Home Retail, ejected from the 2011 portfolio at its published stop/loss target. But that loss was more than balanced by gains elsewhere and the portfolio recorded a gain of more than £5000 for the first time, raising hopes it will reach our 10% appreciation target by the end of the year.

The 2013 portfolio also recorded a small overall gain although the 2012 selection shaded 1%.