FTSE 250 movers: FirstGroup surges; Carnival cruises lower
London’s FTSE 250 was up 1.7% at 17,647.18 in afternoon trade on Monday.
Transport operator FirstGroup surged following a report that its US operations have attracted interest from several major private equity firms. According to The Sunday Telegraph, Canary Wharf owner Brookfield, Apollo Global Management and KKR are among a group of potential suitors for FirstStudent and FirstTransit.
The sector in general was buoyant, with National Express and Go-Ahead also sharply higher.
Media group Future racked up strong gains after saying its FY20 results are set to be "materially ahead" of market expectations.
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson advanced as Deutsche Bank upgraded the shares to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ and lifted the price target to 250p from 202p, saying that strong action has been taken to address the cost base and the stock is attractively valued.
Veterinary drugs firm Dechra Pharmaceuticals was up after it reported higher full-year profits and raised its dividend as it made an "encouraging" start to the new fiscal year.
Going the other way, Carnival was in the red after saying that its Costa Crociere subsidiary has cancelled the arrival of its ships for the 2020-2021 season in South America.
FTSE 250 - Risers
FirstGroup (FGP) 48.38p 21.68%
Future (FUTR) 1,664.00p 14.44%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 207.80p 9.71%
National Express Group (NEX) 126.60p 8.48%
Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 724.00p 8.30%
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 900.00p 8.17%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 3,340.00p 8.16%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 61.10p 6.08%
Energean (ENOG) 538.10p 5.41%
Drax Group (DRX) 281.60p 5.39%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Rank Group (RNK) 135.20p -2.59%
Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 326.50p -2.54%
Carnival (CCL) 1,108.50p -2.03%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 148.50p -2.01%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 272.00p -1.98%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 82.15p -1.91%
BMO Commercial Property Trust Limited (BCPT) 64.40p -1.68%
Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 130.00p -1.66%
BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust (BRSC) 1,200.00p -1.64%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 3,642.00p -1.57%