FTSE 250 movers: Babcock rallies; Helios Towers falls after stake sale
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.1% at 19,497.71 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Helios Towers was the standout loser on the index after Millicom Holdings sold 52 million shares in the telecommunications company - a 5.2% stake - at 155p each. This represents an 11.6% discount to the closing share price on Thursday.
Micro Focus was on the back foot as FTSE 100-listed software group Sage slumped after results.
Investment platform AJ Bell was also weaker after Barclays initiated coverage of the stock at ‘underweight’ with a 320p price target.
Aerospace and defence company Babcock was in the black on news of a £16.5bn increase in UK defence spending.
Cineworld gained, having fallen sharply on Thursday on reports it was considering a company voluntary arrangement.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Energean (ENOG) 713.80p 5.19%
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 1,247.00p 5.14%
Just Group (JUST) 59.40p 3.94%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 45.90p 3.85%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 406.20p 3.62%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 198.20p 3.44%
Victrex plc (VCT) 2,056.00p 3.26%
Hill & Smith Holdings (HILS) 1,340.00p 3.08%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 435.00p 3.01%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 321.00p 2.98%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Helios Towers (HTWS) 155.00p -11.63%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 324.10p -7.32%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 150.40p -4.26%
Ninety One (N91) 224.40p -3.94%
Vivo Energy (VVO) 85.30p -3.83%
AJ Bell (AJB) 434.00p -3.45%
Shaftesbury (SHB) 527.00p -3.30%
BMO Commercial Property Trust Limited (BCPT) 70.60p -3.29%
ITV (ITV) 92.92p -3.23%
Derwent London (DLN) 3,136.00p -3.21%