FTSE 250 movers: Investors cheer Future's bright outlook, WH Smith joins bounce in travel stocks

Future paced the bounce on the second-tier index after telling shareholders it still expected to meet its targets for the first half, thanks to solid trading up to 31 March and the specialist media and publishing company's diversification.

That was despite the postponement of larger events from March into the back half of the year.

WH Smith was right behind, riding higher on the coattails of a wider bounce in Travel & Leisure stocks.

Mimicking other shares recently, stock in pub owner JD Wetherspoons jumped even as it cancelled its interim dividend and warned on full year profits as the coronavirus and government advice to stay away from pubs and restaurants hit current sales.

Elementis, who had cut its final dividend the day before was sharply higher alongside.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 13,592.64 5.95%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Future (FUTR) 820.00p 40.67%
HGCapital Trust (HGT) 199.60p 35.16%
WH Smith (SMWH) 945.00p 34.90%
Rank Group (RNK) 106.60p 31.53%
HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited A Shs (HVPE) 1,208.00p 31.16%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 629.00p 29.69%
McCarthy & Stone (MCS) 50.50p 27.97%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 38.26p 27.53%
National Express Group (NEX) 133.50p 27.14%
GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd (GCP) 97.00p 26.47%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Capita (CPI) 32.41p -18.77%
BMO Commercial Property Trust Limited (BCPT) 45.15p -10.40%
Galliford Try (GFRD) 114.04p -9.56%
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 153.20p -8.81%
Just Group (JUST) 45.20p -8.17%
Trainline (TRN) 225.50p -7.96%
Pagegroup (PAGE) 309.20p -7.26%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 107.80p -7.07%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 343.00p -6.74%
G4S (GFS) 91.74p -6.69%