FTSE 250 movers: Avast under pressure again; Centamin shines

London’s FTSE 250 was down 1% at 21,252.84 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

Avast was the standout loser after saying it had decided to terminate the provision of data to its data analytics business, Jumpshot, with immediate effect, but that this would have no financial impact on its FY19 results.

A day earlier, the company said it was "reviewing all options" relating to the trend analytics business following reports earlier in the week that it had been selling users’ web-browsing clicks. According to a joint investigation by Mortherboard and PCMag, Avast was scraping data from the software it provides to customers and passing it on to Jumpshot, which then sold it for millions of dollars to companies such as Google, Yelp and Microsoft.

IG Group was weaker after being cut to ‘hold’ at Liberum and as its stock went ex-dividend.

Paragon Banking was down after saying it traded in line with management expectations in the quarter to the end of December, with new business volumes up 3.7% on the same period a year ago.

On the upside, Centamin shone as the Egypt-focused miner reported a 51% rise in fourth quarter gold production to 148,387 ounces and reiterated guidance for 2020. Full-year production from the company's Sukari gold mine rose 2% to 480,529 ounces.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 135.45p 5.29%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 268.20p 4.36%
Network International Holdings (NETW) 596.00p 3.83%
Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 167.50p 3.72%
Fresnillo (FRES) 641.40p 3.59%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 74.85p 3.10%
PureTech Health (PRTC) 301.00p 2.73%
Stagecoach Group (SGC) 136.60p 2.55%
BMO Commercial Property Trust Limited (BCPT) 111.80p 2.19%
Grafton Group Units (GFTU) 935.00p 1.85%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Avast (AVST) 392.80p -13.75%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,037.60p -5.79%
Finablr (FIN) 84.95p -5.66%
Hammerson (HMSO) 240.70p -5.24%
Energean Oil & Gas (ENOG) 771.00p -4.81%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 50.64p -4.45%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 656.40p -3.95%
UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 782.50p -3.87%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 4,154.00p -3.44%
Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 509.00p -3.42%