London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.4% at 21,124.38 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Ukraine-based iron ore pellets exporter Ferrexpo gained after saying pellet production in the first quarter of 2022 of 2.7m tonnes was in line with the same period a year ago and down 11% on the previous quarter.
House broker Liberum said the production figures imply Ferrexpo was operating at 70% capacity during March. It said operations “admirably continue” despite “horrific conditions” in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Peel Hunt said the production update was “surprisingly strong”.
Online trading platform CMC Markets rallied as it said full-year net operating income was set to be at the top end of guidance.
Countryside Properties was also on the front foot, having tumbled a day earlier after it said annual profit would fall and publishing a damning review of its own operations. The company said it expanded too quickly and botched the acquisition of Westleigh in 2018. Project delays, poor workmanship and rising costs also affected the group at some sites.
888 Holdings was the worst performer on the index, having rallied on Thursday after it said that it and Caesars Entertainment had agreed a cut in the deal value of William Hill’s international assets due to tougher economic and regulatory conditions.
FTSE 250 – Risers
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 188.40p 12.34%
CMC Markets (CMCX) 269.50p 11.59%
Countryside Partnerships (CSP) 258.20p 8.49%
Polymetal International (POLY) 301.20p 3.86%
Darktrace (DARK) 440.70p 3.82%
Biffa (BIFF) 316.40p 3.67%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 152.20p 3.26%
Dr. Martens (DOCS) 238.60p 3.11%
Mediclinic International (MDC) 375.80p 2.96%
Grafton Group Ut (CDI) (GFTU) 1,009.60p 2.81%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
888 Holdings (888) 212.00p -5.44%
NCC Group (NCC) 188.40p -4.46%
International Public Partnerships Ltd. (INPP) 164.40p -3.63%
Hill & Smith Holdings (HILS) 1,442.00p -2.96%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 233.80p -2.83%
Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust (APEO) 499.00p -2.54%
Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 172.30p -2.38%
Rotork (ROR) 312.20p -2.38%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,060.00p -2.14%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 1,034.00p -2.08%
