FTSE 250 movers: Imagination Technologies surges on takeover speculation, oil stocks lower

Mid-caps were outperforming the blue chip index on Monday afternoon, buoyed by strength in the real estate, travel and electronics sectors.

As of 16:00 BST, the FTSE 250 was trading 0.38% higher at 18,224.3.

Imagination Technologies led the risers after analysts at Liberum tipped it as a possible take-over target given how Intel sold out of the company earlier in the year and Imagination's current discount to its peer group. Electronic design automation companies such as Synopsys, Cadence or IP outfits such as Rambus could be among the potential acquirers, the broker said.

Cairn Energy was trading higher as RBC Capital Markets upgraded Cairn Energy to ‘outperform’ from ‘sector perform’ and lifted the price target to 250p from 220p following recent share price weakness. The broker noted that exploration/appraisal drilling offshore Senegal has resulted in an initial oil discovery, which could add a further 70p per share.

Defence and aerospace group Ultra Electronics Holdings was boosted after reaching a deal to acquire the electronics products division of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions for $265m (£173.5m). The deal with the US-based radio frequency and microwave systems supplier will increase Ultra Electronics’ presence in the US electronic warfare market.

Miners Lonmin and Vedanta Resources were in the red following weak manufacturing data from China, the world's biggest metals consumer.

Oil stocks including Premier Oil and Soco International also declined as oil prices retreated from last week's highs.

Risers
Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 231.40p +5.57%
PayPoint (PAY) 982.50p +3.86%
Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 823.00p +3.46%
Renishaw (RSW) 2,479.00p +3.29%
Greencore Group (GNC) 339.80p +3.22%
Man Group (EMG) 183.80p +2.97%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 456.60p +2.93%
Dignity (DTY) 2,183.00p +2.87%
Shaftesbury (SHB) 898.50p +2.57%
De La Rue (DLAR) 521.50p +2.56%

Fallers
Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 917.50p -3.42%
Premier Oil (PMO) 157.70p -3.37%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 353.80p -2.94%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 244.60p -2.78%
Lonmin (LMI) 137.20p -2.69%
Soco International (SIA) 180.10p -2.65%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 719.50p -1.91%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 577.00p -1.70%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 890.00p -1.66%
Drax Group (DRX) 388.90p -1.64%