The FTSE 250 was up 0.42% at 20,333.57 at 1305 BST.
FirstGroup shares continued their move upwards after Thursday’s announcement that it was evaluating a takeover offer from private equity firm I Squared, which owns Irish energy supplier Energia.
In a statement responding to a spike in the share price, the transport operator said it had received a series of unsolicited, conditional takeover proposals from I Squared.
In a day of precious little corporate news, Moonpig tumbled after various shareholders sold around £80m worth of shares in the online greeting cards and gift retailer in a placing. The shares were placed at 250p each, which is an 8% discount to the closing share price on Thursday.
Oil and gas shares took a hit after the UK government finally unveiled its long-avoid windfall tax on the sector to help offset the cost-of-living crisis. British Gas owner Centrica, Petrofac and Tullow Oil were all lower.
FTSE 250 – Risers
HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited A Shs (HVPE) 2,360.00p 4.66%
FirstGroup (FGP) 135.60p 4.47%
Vietnam Enterprise Investments (DI) (VEIL) 703.00p 4.46%
Ninety One (N91) 229.40p 3.43%
NB Private Equity Partners Ltd. (NBPE) 1,570.00p 3.29%
Discoverie Group (DSCV) 754.00p 3.29%
Smithson Investment Trust (SSON) 1,290.00p 3.20%
Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) 163.80p 3.15%
Mercantile Investment Trust (The) (MRC) 204.00p 3.03%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 331.20p 2.99%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Moonpig Group (MOON) 246.80p -9.33%
Investec (INVP) 454.40p -6.81%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,158.00p -4.77%
Centrica (CNA) 75.88p -4.12%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 140.20p -2.91%
Provident Financial (PFG) 253.80p -2.38%
Drax Group (DRX) 669.50p -2.19%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 147.20p -2.13%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 56.10p -1.84%
Greencoat UK Wind (UKW) 151.00p -1.76%
