London’s FTSE 250 was flat at 22,331.43 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Playtech was the top performer on the index after the gambling software company said it had signed a new, expanded long-term strategic software and services agreement with state-owned, land-based casino operator Holland Casino.
Playtech said the agreement is a “significant” strategic step for the company, building on its track record of developing newly regulated online markets.
Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins was also on the rise. Traders pointed to a sharp rally in shares of FTSE 100 building materials group CRH, which were being underpinned by a positive note from Jefferies. The bank said strong results from US peers Martin Marietta and Vulcan Materials were positive for CRH.
On the downside, Virgin Money was a big faller despite saying that first-half profit more than doubled as Covid-19 impairment charges tumbled.
FTSE 250 – Risers
Playtech (PTEC) 486.60p 3.31%
Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,566.00p 3.19%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 291.50p 3.19%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 55.62p 3.08%
John Laing Group (JLG) 313.80p 2.89%
Vistry Group (VTY) 1,243.00p 2.73%
Future (FUTR) 2,362.00p 2.61%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 544.00p 2.35%
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 992.00p 2.27%
SSP Group (SSPG) 324.10p 2.24%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Virgin Money UK (VMUK) 193.60p -3.54%
Vectura Group (VEC) 113.20p -3.25%
Hammerson (HMSO) 38.21p -3.12%
LXI Reit (LXI) 134.20p -2.89%
C&C Group (CDI) (CCR) 290.80p -2.87%
Morgan Sindall Group (MGNS) 2,225.00p -2.84%
PZ Cussons (PZC) 258.50p -2.82%
GCP Student Living (DIGS) 161.00p -2.66%
CLS Holdings (CLI) 241.00p -2.43%
Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 1,048.00p -2.42%
