The FTSE 250 was up 1.31% at 20,470.95 at 1445 GMT on a day short of major corporate news.
Russia focused gold miner Petropavlovsk led the risers on a report in The Times stating that Sergey Sudarikov, a Russian billionaire who part-owns the sanctioned Credit Bank of Moscow has bought a 29% stake in the company.
Sudarikov,, who is behind the Region financial group, bought the stake cheap from fellow Russian tycoon Konstantin Strukov, who owns gold miner UGC, and is the largest shareholder in the London-listed company, the report added.
Bodycote gained after the thermal processing services provider hailed “good progress” in 2021, with both revenues and profits higher.
Network International Holdings continued to benefit from a guidance upgrade for 2022 and forecast little disruption from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Fidelity China Special Situations fell as Covid cases soared in the country and another mass lockdown loomed.
FTSE 250 – Risers
Petropavlovsk (POG) 2.97p 8.15%
Network International Holdings (NETW) 217.40p 7.52%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 130.50p 6.10%
Coats Group (COA) 73.10p 6.10%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 200.60p 5.80%
Mitie Group (MTO) 53.80p 5.70%
Synthomer (SYNT) 291.40p 5.66%
Reach (RCH) 189.00p 5.59%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 261.80p 5.48%
Savills (SVS) 1,238.00p 5.45%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) 231.00p -5.91%
National Express Group (NEX) 240.00p -4.31%
Endeavour Mining (EDV) 1,900.00p -3.31%
Volution Group (FAN) 413.50p -3.05%
BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 749.00p -2.85%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 100.80p -2.47%
Domino’s Pizza Group (DOM) 356.00p -2.47%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,000.00p -2.34%
Drax Group (DRX) 688.00p -2.34%
ICG Enterprise Trust (ICGT) 1,164.00p -2.02%
