London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.7% at 21,403.40 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Gold miners Endeavour and Centamin shone. Oanda analyst Craig Erlam said: “Gold surged once again on Thursday in risk-averse trade and topped $1,900 for the first time in eight months. The yellow metal is paring gains today, off around four-tenths of one percent, but remains well supported given the level of uncertainty and anxiety that exists.
“It has really benefited from its role as a safe haven and inflation hedge, blowing away any suggestion that gold no longer serves such a purpose or that it’s been in any way replaced. If troops cross the border, we could see it surge once more and potentially eye levels not seen since late 2020.”
Elsewhere, online trading platform Plus500 was also in the black. Earlier in the week, the company announced an additional share buyback programme and posted a decline in full-year profit and revenue, but hailed a positive start to the new year.
FTSE 250 – Risers
Endeavour Mining (EDV) 1,890.00p 2.72%
Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,551.00p 2.72%
C&C Group (CDI) (CCR) 219.60p 2.62%
Drax Group (DRX) 629.50p 2.44%
Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,490.00p 1.92%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 96.44p 1.88%
Centrica (CNA) 78.94p 1.83%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 1,804.50p 1.81%
Pantheon International (PIN) 318.00p 1.60%
Bodycote (BOY) 764.50p 1.59%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
PureTech Health (PRTC) 231.00p -5.52%
Future (FUTR) 2,578.00p -5.01%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 156.00p -4.88%
Trustpilot Group (TRST) 146.00p -4.01%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 276.30p -3.66%
FirstGroup (FGP) 102.70p -3.30%
Edinburgh Worldwide Inv Trust (EWI) 227.00p -2.99%
HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited A Shs (HVPE) 2,600.00p -2.80%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 374.60p -2.80%
RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI) (RHIM) 3,202.00p -2.79%
