Investors who have watched White Nile shares soar more than 12-fold since last week's flotation were left dangling yesterday as trading inthe stock was suspended.

The newly listed company, which includes former England cricketer Phil Edmonds among its backers, said it had bought a 60 per cent stake of an oil block from the government of South Sudan. It asked for trading to be halted until tomorrow when it expected to announce more details.