FTSE 250 movers: Greggs higher on shareholder returns
Greggs topped the risers after the baker grew its pre-tax profit last year by 50%, allowing it to return up to £10m to shareholders in the first half of 2015 by resuming its share buyback programme. The company’s chief executive, Roger Whiteside, noted that 2014 was a year of significant change and saw an exceptional step-up in performance as the company began to implement its new strategic plan centred on the growing food-on-the-go market.
Afren
1.79p
16:34 14/07/15
CLS Holdings
82.50p
16:40 24/04/24
Food & Drug Retailers
3,798.88
17:09 24/04/24
FTSE 250
19,719.37
17:09 24/04/24
FTSE 350
4,419.71
17:09 24/04/24
FTSE All-Share
4,374.06
16:44 24/04/24
Greggs
2,780.00p
16:40 24/04/24
Industrial Engineering
13,665.84
17:09 24/04/24
Media
11,814.38
17:09 24/04/24
Melrose Industries
631.60p
16:34 24/04/24
Oil & Gas Producers
9,657.38
17:09 24/04/24
Real Estate Investment & Services
2,162.90
17:09 24/04/24
Rightmove
515.00p
16:45 24/04/24
Also climbing was Rightmove, on an upgrade from Citigroup, after the bank accepted it was a little harsh on the company. The broker lifted its rating to 'neutral' from 'sell' following the company’s earnings this week, in which it reported a surge in profits and record numbers of visitors to its website.
CLS Holdings was higher as it impressed with its first annual results since being promoted to the FTSE 250 in December. The European property investor showed 40% growth in net assets, strong cash-flow and a new share buyback.
Afren’s shares led the fallers after the struggling oil group said it will default on $15m of interest payments and that shareholders could be “substantially” diluted as part of a possible restructuring.
Melrose Industries was in the red as currency headwinds continued to eat away at full-year pre-tax profit. Revenue from continuing businesses for the year was lower as the company’s energy unit Brush suffered a decline in earnings due to difficult end markets with its original equipment manufacturer business.
Risers
Greggs (GRG) 937.50p +7.70%
Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 256.00p +5.18%
Tullett Prebon (TLPR) 350.00p +4.48%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 500.00p +3.48%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,286.00p +2.88%
Diploma (DPLM) 787.50p +2.87%
CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,725.00p +2.68%
Rightmove (RMV) 3,039.00p +2.36%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,438.00p +1.92%
Hellermanntyton Group (HTY) 332.10p +1.90%
Fallers
Afren (AFR) 6.43p -29.30%
Allied Minds (ALM) 613.50p -5.54%
Rotork (ROR) 2,469.00p -5.04%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 133.70p -4.50%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 574.00p -4.49%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 284.20p -4.18%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 649.00p -3.85%
Laird (LRD) 339.80p -3.60%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 261.20p -3.51%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 168.00p -3.45%