FTSE 250 movers: Greencore and banks gain while gold miners fall

The FTSE 250 index was in positive territory, just shy of 17,500, by the late afternoon on Monday.

Irish food company Greencore led the risers, gaining on the back of jump in full-year revenue and earnings, a hike in its dividend and the proposed acquisition of Peacock Foods for an enterprise value of $747.5m.

Banks of all sizes, including challengers like OneSavings Bank, Shawbrook and Aldermore, were given a boost as treasury yields were on the rise from investor expectations of an earlier hike in interest rates from the US Federal Reserve in December after Donald Trump was elected president. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst at London Capital Group, said: “The US 30-year yields hit 3% for the first time since January, leading banks to see the end of the tunnel, as higher yields finally suggest a period of relief for financial services sector that has seen its revenues heavily squeezed by the low-to-negative yield environment over the past years.”

Mid-cap housebuilder Crest Nicholson climbed after larger peer Taylor Wimpey said the UK housing market remained resilient, despite the implications of Brexit being unclear.

Gaming software development company Playtech gained ground as it announced that it has agreed to buy Consolidated Financial Holdings for up to $120m – a deal it said will enhance its position as it continues to build a B2B offering in its financials division.

Meanwhile gold miners Centamin and Hochschild fell as gold prices took a 0.51% dive as a result of the US presidential result. “Gold miners are down this morning as the market braces for higher interest rates following the election of Donald Trump. Higher interest rates increase the effective cost of holding gold, making it less attractive to investors,” said analyst Nicholas Hyett at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Tullow Oil fell as oil prices took a hit with Brent Crude dropping 0.7% to $44/44 and WTI down by 0.9% to $43.02 in the late afternoon. “Oil was shaky on Monday as the heightened fears over the persistent oversupply of oil in the global markets haunted investor attraction. The Dollar resurgence amid rising US rate hike expectations simply pressured oil prices further with concerns that demand may be waning from slowing global growth capping oils upside gains,” said FXTM analyst Lukman Otunuga.

Risers

Greencore Group (GNC) 329.50p 12.88%
Shawbrook Group (SHAW) 262.40p 5.47%
OneSavings Bank (OSB) 321.50p 4.05%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 453.80p 3.99%
Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 351.90p 3.29%
Aldermore Group (ALD) 203.90p 3.19%
Playtech (PTEC) 910.50p 3.17%
GVC Holdings (GVC) 644.50p 3.04%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 282.30p 2.65%
Marshalls (MSLH) 279.20p 2.61%

Fallers

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 135.60p -3.90%
Pennon Group (PNN) 765.50p -3.65%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 238.90p -3.20%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 238.90p -3.20%
Drax Group (DRX) 293.00p -2.98%
AO World (AO.) 166.00p -2.18%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 443.40p -1.97%
DFS Furniture (DFS) 221.60p -1.95%
Fidelity European Values (FEV) 173.20p -1.65%
Ascential (ASCL) 285.40p -1.59%