London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.4% at 23,473.87 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Travel stocks were under the cosh on news that Austria will implement a national lockdown next week and plans to make Covid vaccines mandatory from February. Carnival, Wizz Air, easyJet, National Express, and Upper Crust and Ritazza owner SSP all slumped.
CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: “With Germany also imposing new restrictions, any thoughts that the vaccines would offer a way to a more normal Christmas period appear to have gone up in smoke for now, in Europe at least, although there is a nagging fear this could ripple out across the region.”
Software company Kainos was the top performer on the index. Earlier in the week, the shares slid even as it reported a jump in first-half profit and revenue amid “robust” market demand.
FTSE 250 – Risers
Kainos Group (KNOS) 1,894.00p 3.10%
LondonMetric Property (LMP) 276.00p 2.99%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 219.00p 2.82%
Auction Technology Group (ATG) 1,376.00p 2.69%
Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 1,412.00p 2.62%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 1,313.00p 2.58%
Indivior (INDV) 253.60p 2.51%
AO World (AO.) 131.10p 1.86%
Vivo Energy (VVO) 105.80p 1.73%
Future (FUTR) 3,432.00p 1.72%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Mitie Group (MTO) 65.00p -7.14%
Close Brothers Group (CBG) 1,327.00p -6.15%
Carnival (CCL) 1,352.40p -5.11%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 4,155.00p -5.05%
easyJet (EZJ) 542.80p -4.87%
National Express Group (NEX) 227.20p -4.46%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 229.60p -4.33%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 127.30p -3.92%
Playtech (PTEC) 740.50p -3.83%
SSP Group (SSPG) 253.20p -3.65%
