Share prices in Merlin Entertainments rose by 1% in the 30 minutes after the judge had handed them a £5 million fine for the operational negligence on the Alton Towers Smiler ride last year. The “needless and avoidable accident in which those who were injured were lucky not to be killed” injured 18 people, including two teenage women who both suffered leg amputations. (Business Desk)

The share price rise signals stock market relief that the fine will be covered by a few days trading and was not far larger.