A flurry of last-minute share disposals and transfers was evident on Thursday as people scrambled to lock in a lower capital gains tax rate, just three days before the end of the tax year.

David Goldie, a director of Carphone Warehouse, transferred shares representing almost 0.1 per cent of the company to a trust. The company said: “This transfer was effected as part of tax planning implemented because of changes to capital gains tax effective from 6 April 2008.”