FTSE 250 movers: Travel, leisure stocks gain on vaccine news; AO drops

London’s FTSE 250 was up 2% at 19,649.77 in afternoon trade on Tuesday after US biotech firm Moderna said its Covid-19 vaccine had been shown to be 95% effective.

Travel and leisure stocks were the best performers on the back of the vaccine news, with Cineworld and cruise operator Carnival both sharply higher. Upper Crust owner SSP and WH Smith - both of which have outlets at train stations and airports - were also in the black, while Trainline chugged higher.

On the downside, online electricals retailer AO World, Mr Kipling and Oxo owner Premier Foods and miniature wargames manufacturer Games Workshop all lost ground. All of them have benefited from coronavirus restrictions.

Diploma was in the red as the diversified technical and services group increased its dividend but reported a fall in full-year profits.

The company posted a fall in pre-tax profit to £66.7m from £83.5m for the year to September 30. Revenue was down 1% to £538.4m. A final dividend of 30p a share was declared, up 3%.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Just Group (JUST) 55.05p 13.98%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 49.51p 12.93%
Network International Holdings (NETW) 269.80p 12.70%
Rank Group (RNK) 143.00p 11.37%
Carnival (CCL) 1,195.00p 10.55%
SSP Group (SSPG) 363.00p 10.07%
C&C Group (CCR) 204.50p 8.89%
Trainline (TRN) 454.60p 8.55%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 268.00p 8.50%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,466.00p 8.35%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

AO World (AO.) 382.50p -4.85%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,954.00p -3.74%
Premier Foods (PFD) 92.30p -3.35%
Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 8,176.00p -2.83%
Games Workshop Group (GAW) 9,570.00p -2.79%
Helios Towers (HTWS) 177.80p -2.09%
PureTech Health (PRTC) 276.50p -1.95%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 966.00p -1.93%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 113.95p -1.81%
Diploma (DPLM) 2,258.00p -1.66%