FTSE 250 movers: Capita tumbles as it goes ex-rights; On The Beach gets burned

London's FTSE 250 was up 0.1% to 20,703.64 in afternoon trade on Thursday, as investors mulled the latest BoE rate announcement and a slew of corporate news.

Outsourcer Capita was the biggest faller as it went ex-rights. The company loaded 1bn new shares onto the market as it completed its £701m right issue.

Fashion brand Superdry was under the cosh as it said that February's Beast from the East snowstorm and lower spring temperatures took their toll on store sales. The company said final quarter store sales fell 6% year-on-year to £86.1m. There was better news from online operations, however, where sales were up 18.2% to £39.7m.

Package holiday company On The Beach was under pressure after it reported a hit from the collapse of Monarch Airlines, which meant interim sales came in below expectations at £45.3m.

Analysts at Numis had pencilled in sales of £47m. The shortfall was due to an estimated impact of £1.1m for lost bookings due to winter seat availability and seat pricing following the Monarch collapse.

TP ICAP was on the back foot despite saying that revenues in the four months to the end of April were up 3% at constant currency and in line with the guidance at the FY results of low single-digit growth.

Stobart, the owner of Southend Airport, was flying lower despite saying it swung to a pre-tax profit of £100.6m versus a loss of £8m the year before, thanks to a £123.9m gain from the sale of a stake in Eddie Stobart Logistics.

Polymetal retreated at its stock went ex-dividend, while SIG was in the red after the building specialist said like-for-like revenues in the UK and Ireland fell 4.4% in the first quarter due to bad weather.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Capita (CPI) 127.20p 4.19%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 1,013.50p 3.31%
Equiniti Group (EQN) 283.00p 3.28%
Sirius Minerals (SXX) 34.46p 3.16%
Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 297.00p 2.91%
Investec (INVP) 590.20p 2.82%
Sanne Group (SNN) 629.00p 2.78%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 761.60p 2.64%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 242.60p 2.23%
Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 286.10p 2.18%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Superdry (SDRY) 1,281.00p -17.35%
On The Beach Group (OTB) 564.96p -13.08%
TP ICAP (TCAP) 446.50p -7.15%
Contour Global (GLO) 242.00p -5.47%
Stobart Group Ltd. (STOB) 234.80p -4.94%
Provident Financial (PFG) 671.60p -3.45%
TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) 250.00p -3.10%
Polymetal International (POLY) 711.50p -2.85%
Bakkavor Group (BAKK) 185.00p -2.63%
SIG (SHI) 137.30p -2.49%