FTSE 250 movers: Travel & leisure stocks hit; Kainos surges
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.9% at 20,613.61 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Kainos surged after the IT provider lifted full-year guidance as it reported strong trading momentum towards the end of 2020.-
Pets at Home was on the rise following a well-received update a day earlier, in which it stuck to its outlook for annual results and posted an 18% increase in third-quarter revenue amid a boom in pet product sales.
Amid the prospect of a prolonged lockdown, possibly until summer, Pets - which is classed as an essential retailer - could continue to benefit.
House broker Liberum said in a note: "The strategic initiatives put in place prior to Covid-19 have enabled Pets to deliver a strong recovery with continued market share gains. The group is emerging as an overall beneficiary from the pandemic and is well set to weather the remaining uncertainty ahead."
The potential for lockdown to last past spring was weighing on companies more exposed to restrictions and closures, however, with travel company TUI, shopping centre owner Hammerson, Cineworld and WH Smith all weaker.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Kainos Group (KNOS) 1,342.00p 18.13%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 432.60p 5.00%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 77.90p 4.42%
Grainger (GRI) 275.20p 2.00%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 379.50p 1.88%
Primary Health Properties (PHP) 149.40p 1.63%
Greencore Group (GNC) 116.50p 1.57%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 819.50p 1.55%
UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 775.00p 1.51%
ICG Enterprise Trust (ICGT) 946.00p 1.50%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 359.70p -14.88%
AO World (AO.) 331.00p -6.50%
Provident Financial (PFG) 247.60p -5.93%
Hammerson (HMSO) 20.48p -5.62%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 66.02p -4.84%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,697.00p -4.82%
Trainline (TRN) 426.80p -4.73%
Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 191.60p -4.68%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 295.40p -4.62%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 789.00p -4.59%