FTSE 250 movers: Kier rallies on results but Capita crumbles

London's FTSE 250 was down 0.6% to 19,422.90 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

Construction and services company Kier Group rallied as it reported a rise in full-year pre-tax profit as revenue grew and its business remained relatively unaffected by Brexit. In the year to the end of June, underlying pre-tax profit was up 8% to £126m on revenue of £4.27bn, up 5% from the year before. Kier proposed a full-year dividend of 67.5p per share, up 5% from 2016.

James Fisher was up as Investec reiterated its 'buy' recommendation on the stock noting it has an excellent track record of compounding growth over long periods of time. "We believe that contract awards are imminent and should act as a firm catalyst for the stock," it said.

IG Group was trading higher after saying it generated record revenues in the three months to the end of August, boosted by strong overseas growth for the online trading broker as UK client numbers tailed off.

Paragon was also in the black after announcing a strategic reorganisation of the group in a bid to accelerate its transformation into a diversified specialist banking institution.

Going the other way, Capita was under pressure. The group said underlying profits grew 46% in the first six months of the year and said they would "rise modestly" in the second half compared to the first, though some investors and analysts found the numbers rather disappointing and difficult to decode.

Senior was under the cosh as Peel Hunt downgraded the stock to 'reduce' from 'hold', saying a recovery in sterling could be a headwind.

Mitchells & Butlers was on the back foot as it posted growth in sales for the year to date but said the latter part of the summer was hit by poorer weather, while Crest Nicholson fell as its stock went ex-dividend.

Risers

Kier Group (KIE) 1,167.00p 6.58%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,474.00p 2.57%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 648.50p 2.53%
Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 485.50p 2.43%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 631.00p 2.02%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 171.20p 1.97%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,638.00p 1.42%
Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 412.90p 1.18%
Greencore Group (GNC) 190.10p 1.17%
Spectris (SXS) 2,297.00p 1.10%

Fallers

Capita (CPI) 567.50p -11.88%
Senior (SNR) 258.50p -4.93%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 235.10p -4.89%
Rank Group (RNK) 219.70p -3.64%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 516.50p -3.37%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 966.50p -3.25%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 134.30p -3.24%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 231.60p -3.14%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 233.30p -3.03%
Evraz (EVR) 290.60p -2.91%