FTSE 250 movers: Clarkson sails on; Essentra stumbles
FTSE 250: 19,488.94, up 0.13% at 1445 GMT.
Shipping services firm Clarkson said on Friday that results for the year to the end of December were set to be ahead of current market expectations.
In a very brief update, the company attributed this to strong trading throughout the final quarter, particularly from the broking division. It now expects underlying pre-tax profit of no less than £98m.
The full-year results are due to be published on 6 March.
Shares in components maker Essentra fell sharply after weaker sales in the final quarter, although the company said it expected annual profits to be in line with expectations despite global economic headwinds.
The company on Friday guided for full-year like-for-like revenue growth of around 6.5%.
“In Q4 2022, as anticipated, the business saw a period of slower global economic growth, with toughening market headwinds. Coupled with the strong comparative for the quarter, LFL trading day adjusted sales declined by 3% compared to Q4 2021,” the company said.
Essentra said performance in the fourth quarter had varied by region with its European business delivering growth at “moderated levels”, whilst the US business faced greater headwinds, with signs of distributor destocking.
Asia had disrupted trading in China as a result of enforced Covid lockdowns, with that disruption showing signs of abating through the first half 2023 as Beijing dismantled its zero-tolerance policy towards the pandemic.
The company said it was confident it could still pass on price rises to offset cost inflation, and underlying business operations remain strong. It also confirmed plans to return £150m to shareholders in the first quarter.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Clarkson (CKN) 3,290.00p 4.61%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 78.20p 3.92%
Carnival (CCL) 664.00p 3.23%
BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 725.00p 2.69%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 2,230.00p 2.53%
RIT Capital Partners (RCP) 2,035.00p 2.26%
Playtech (PTEC) 546.00p 2.25%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 300.10p 2.11%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 140.80p 2.10%
Inchcape (INCH) 898.50p 2.04%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Essentra (ESNT) 212.00p -9.40%
Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,746.00p -2.84%
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 1,059.00p -2.67%
TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) 137.20p -2.42%
Investec (INVP) 531.00p -2.17%
CMC Markets (CMCX) 229.00p -2.14%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 754.00p -2.08%
Savills (SVS) 839.50p -2.04%
Tritax Eurobox (GBP) (EBOX) 63.20p -2.02%
Mitie Group (MTO) 78.70p -1.87%