FTSE 250 movers: Ted Baker feels the squeeze while IP Group jumps

London's FTSE 250 was down 0.71% at 18,431.89 in afternoon trade on Tuesday, as hugging controversy continued to dog Ted Baker and IG Group dropped amid new regulatory pressures.

Financial derivatives trader IG Group retreated as it warned on first-half revenue after product intervention measures from the European Securities and Markets Authority came into effect during the period.

A prohibition on offering binary options to retail clients became effective from 2 July, and restrictions relating to the provision of contracts for difference to retail clients has been effective since 1 August.

Meanwhile, there were further falls for tour operator Thomas Cook after last week's profit warning and for fashion brand Ted Baker on the back of its 'forced hugging' scandal. Ted Baker was also hit by a downgrade to 'hold' from 'buy' at Stifel, which said the bad publicity could dent sales in the run-up to Christmas.

Construction group Kier slumped after a downgrade from 'buy' to 'hold' at Canaccord following the announcement of a rights issue last week, with the broker also slashing its target price from 1,200p to 525p.

"Clearly the balance sheet improves with a commensurate reduction in financial risk. However, after fees, a worse than previously assumed working capital outflow and confirmation of the average debt level using daily averages, the annualised benefit from the rights issue is arguably only around £90m," said Canaccord analysts.

Convenience food manufacturer Greencore dropped despite posting a rise in full-year profit and revenue, with good underlying growth in the UK, while polymer maker Victrex fell as it reported a rise in full-year profit and said it was stockpiling due to Brexit concerns.

Pub group Mitchells & Butlers was in the red as RBC Capital Markets started the stock at 'underperform'. "We see few short-term catalysts for Mitchells & Butlers as it progresses with its long-term strategy to unlock equity value," it said.

On the upside, intellectual property investor IP Group was the top gainer a day after its portfolio company Ultrahaptics, which uses haptics technology to create sensations of touch in mid-air, completed a £35m fundraising.

Oilers Energean and shell licensee Vivo Energy were both on the rise as crude oil prices perked up ahead of OPEC's Thursday meeting in Vienna, indicating that traders are confident that the organisation will agree to reduce production.

Commercial and industrial air humidification equipment manufacturer Spirax-Sarco Engineering continued to creep up after saying on Monday that it had sold its German HygroMatik unit to Carel Industries for €59m (£52m).

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 18,431.89 -0.71%

FTSE 250 - Risers

IP Group (IPO) 120.60p 4.15%
Amigo Holdings (AMGO) 264.80p 3.84%
Indivior (INDV) 102.15p 3.37%
Energean Oil & Gas (ENOG) 592.00p 2.96%
Vivo Energy (VVO) 120.02p 2.76%
CLS Holdings (CLI) 220.00p 2.09%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 128.30p 2.07%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,200.00p 1.85%
Bank of Georgia Group (BGEO) 1,387.80p 1.60%
Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 6,440.00p 1.58%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Ted Baker (TED) 1,345.70p -13.18%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 538.00p -11.59%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 21.37p -9.59%
Kier Group (KIE) 404.00p -9.42%
Greencore Group (GNC) 174.20p -5.22%
AA (AA.) 86.38p -4.93%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 180.35p -4.53%
Victrex plc (VCT) 2,402.00p -4.46%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 259.20p -4.35%
Capita (CPI) 105.45p -3.92%