London’s second-tier index endured heavy selling after the Prime Minister warned on Sunday that the UK was facing a “tidal wave” of Covid-19 infections due to the new Omicron variant.
Hence, everyone aged 18 and over would be offered vaccine boosters before New Year’s Eve with the aim of providing the highest degree of protection possible.
Against that backdrop, and after the government raised the pandemic alert level from three to four, Trainline, Cineworld, IWG and SSP Group were all lower.
But it was outsourcer Capita that was at the bottom of the pile, after it reported broadly flat revenues. The firm said like-for-like group revenues, adjusted for disposals, were 0.6% higher in the 11 months to 30 November at £2.88bn.
Going the other way, shares of Jupiter Fund Management jumped sharply after the Financial Mail on Sunday reported that the firm had hired Robey Warshaw to advise it on how to bolster its defences against a potential buyout offer amid the merger frenzy that has gripped the City.
Market Movers
FTSE 250 (MCX) 22,678.26 -1.09%
FTSE 250 – Risers
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 252.00p 7.78%
Moonpig Group (MOON) 358.40p 6.79%
Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 1,444.00p 1.98%
Trustpilot Group (TRST) 338.40p 1.81%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 290.80p 1.75%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 5,065.00p 1.38%
Renishaw (RSW) 4,578.00p 1.28%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 428.40p 1.23%
Spectris (SXS) 3,643.00p 1.22%
Frasers Group (FRAS) 740.50p 1.09%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Capita (CPI) 37.35p -17.37%
Trainline (TRN) 256.80p -6.07%
IWG (IWG) 259.70p -5.97%
SSP Group (SSPG) 220.70p -5.80%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 44.44p -5.61%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 181.65p -5.59%
Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 819.50p -5.48%
Restaurant Group (RTN) 78.70p -5.07%
C&C Group (CDI) (CCR) 218.80p -4.95%
Petropavlovsk (POG) 20.12p -4.82%
