London’s FTSE 250 was 0.6% higher at 23,009.45 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Wizz Air flew higher after the budget airline reported a widening of its losses for the first quarter as it continues to be hit by pandemic restrictions, but struck an upbeat note on summer capacity and said it expects to be the first major European airline to fully recover capacity to pre-Covid-19 levels.
Other travel stocks were in the black, also boosted by news that from August the UK will allow in double-jabbed visitors from the EU and US without the need to quarantine. Fellow budget airline easyJet and Upper Crust and Ritazza owner SSP – which has outlets at airports – were both up.
On the downside, RHI Magnesita was under the cosh after its interim earnings before interest, tax and appreciation came in marginally ahead of expectations but net debt came in higher.
Lancashire Holdings was in the red despite saying it swung to a profit in the first half as gross premiums written surged. In the six months to 30 June, the insurer swung to a pre-tax profit of $54.1m from a loss of $23m in the first half of the previous year as gross premiums written rose 40.7% to $697.2m.
FTSE 250 – Risers
4Imprint Group (FOUR) 2,840.00p 8.60%
SSP Group (SSPG) 269.60p 6.69%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 4,942.00p 6.07%
Capita (CPI) 36.28p 5.99%
Trainline (TRN) 348.80p 5.19%
Meggitt (MGGT) 476.00p 4.75%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 1,172.00p 4.64%
easyJet (EZJ) 888.40p 4.59%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 286.20p 3.92%
Trustpilot Group (TRST) 378.00p 3.85%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI) (RHIM) 3,876.00p -9.01%
Tyman (TYMN) 426.00p -4.38%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 519.00p -3.44%
Greencore Group (CDI) (GNC) 129.40p -2.85%
PureTech Health (PRTC) 328.00p -2.67%
Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 665.00p -1.55%
RIT Capital Partners (RCP) 2,535.00p -1.55%
Volution Group (FAN) 465.00p -1.48%
Premier Foods (PFD) 110.40p -1.43%
Coats Group (COA) 69.00p -1.43%
