London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.3% at 23,796.67 in afternoon trade on Monday.
Babcock was among the gainers after agreeing to sell its 15.4% stake in AirTanker Holdings Limited to Equitix Investment Management for £126m.
WH Smith was also in the black after US activist investor Causeway took a 9% stake in the retailer, worth around £178m, making it the largest shareholder.
Causeway, which has been demanding major change at Rolls-Royce – insisted it backed WH Smith’s management. Issuing a statement in response to the Sunday Times, which first reported the increased stake, portfolio manager Jonathan Eng said: “We are firm believers in the strategy and management team of WH Smith, which is why we first invested last March and why we have continued to add to our shareholding.
“We have confidence in the long-term growth potential of the business and are happy to be the company’s largest shareholder.”
FTSE 250 – Risers
Tullow Oil (TLW) 42.81p 6.28%
PureTech Health (PRTC) 358.00p 4.99%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 388.60p 3.96%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 350.80p 3.12%
Restaurant Group (RTN) 122.00p 3.04%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,552.50p 3.02%
Hays (HAS) 171.90p 2.87%
Bellway (BWY) 3,504.00p 2.67%
Close Brothers Group (CBG) 1,557.00p 2.57%
Centrica (CNA) 50.96p 2.54%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Civitas Social Housing (CSH) 95.00p -4.90%
IP Group (IPO) 141.20p -3.81%
Discoverie Group (DSCV) 1,218.00p -3.49%
Future (FUTR) 3,712.00p -3.08%
Bytes Technology Group (BYIT) 533.00p -3.00%
Reach (RCH) 390.00p -2.74%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,500.00p -2.72%
Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) 332.00p -2.50%
Petropavlovsk (POG) 19.66p -2.29%
Coats Group (COA) 74.00p -2.12%
