FTSE 250 movers: Hochschild shines; Dixons Carphone slumps
London’s FTSE 250 was up 1.4% at 17,406.84 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Hochschild Mining was the top performer as it reported a fall in second-quarter production as coronavirus-related closures hit output, but said a production team would return to its suspended Inmaculada mine next week.
Travel and leisure stocks got a boost amid growing hopes of a coronavirus vaccine, with cruise operator Carnival, airlines Wizz and easyJet and Cineworld all higher.
Bucking the trend, Dixons Carphone was sharply lower as it posted a slump in full-year profits, pinning the blame on weakness in the mobile division and store closures due to the pandemic.
In the 53 weeks to 2 May, adjusted pre-tax profit fell to £166m from £339m in 2019. This was around £44m below the guidance that Dixons reiterated in January, which it said it was on track to achieve before the Covid-19 outbreak. However, it was ahead of consensus expectations of £151m.
UK & Ireland electricals revenue ticked up 1% to £4.54bn, but mobile revenue slid 20% to £1.59bn
FTSE 250 - Risers
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 208.80p 9.78%
Carnival (CCL) 1,039.50p 9.70%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 57.10p 8.43%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,338.00p 7.90%
Rank Group (RNK) 152.80p 6.85%
John Laing Group (JLG) 299.80p 6.84%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 3,494.00p 6.78%
easyJet (EZJ) 692.00p 6.46%
William Hill (WMH) 120.50p 6.26%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 396.60p 6.04%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 79.75p -7.80%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 727.00p -2.68%
Just Group (JUST) 50.30p -2.42%
Sanne Group (SNN) 602.00p -2.27%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 62.20p -2.20%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 358.50p -2.18%
Assura (AGR) 75.20p -1.96%
Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX) 147.10p -1.87%
Drax Group (DRX) 253.80p -1.86%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 865.00p -1.70%