London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.4% at 22,990.57 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Oxford Biomedica was the top performer after an upgrade to ‘buy’ at Panmure Gordon.
Pagegroup was also in the black after the recruiter said profits improved in the second quarter as demand started to pick up around the world.
Redrow gained after the housebuilder said it expected 2022 revenues to exceed £2bn, driven by a strong order book and completion of a private rental sector project in London.
888 Holdings was in the red as it said it expects adjusted annual core profit to be slightly higher despite higher costs and regulatory changes, but cautioned that since UK retail and leisure venues reopened on 17 May, average daily revenues in have been around 20% lower on the year.
Spire Healthcare was under the cosh as it delayed a vote on its takeover by Australia’s Ramsay Health Care after shareholders Fidelity International and Toscafund Asset Management reportedly rejected a final, improved offer.
Spire said it was adjourning the meetings after “a number of investors” requested “a short extension to the process to allow them to exercise voting rights”.
FTSE 250 – Risers
Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 1,370.00p 2.54%
Volution Group (FAN) 441.00p 2.44%
Pagegroup (PAGE) 589.50p 2.43%
Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 170.80p 2.40%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 873.50p 2.34%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,485.00p 2.26%
Redrow (RDW) 642.60p 2.10%
Shaftesbury (SHB) 598.50p 2.05%
Schroder Oriental Income Fund Ltd. (SOI) 279.50p 2.01%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 84.15p 2.00%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
888 Holdings (888) 384.60p -6.88%
BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. NPV (DI) (BBGI) 170.60p -4.48%
Restaurant Group (RTN) 128.20p -3.61%
FirstGroup (FGP) 83.30p -3.42%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 81.54p -3.41%
National Express Group (NEX) 268.40p -3.24%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 284.00p -3.20%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 230.50p -3.15%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 55.88p -2.78%
Playtech (PTEC) 434.00p -2.52%
