LONDON (ShareCast) - All Bar One owner Mitchells and Butlers was given a boost after tenanted pub group Punch brought forward its trading update to last night.

Punch said its balance sheet is strong, business performance is in line with expectations and it remains confident of meeting full-year profit expectations. JD Wetherspoon is also among the mid-cap index’s top 10 gainers. M&B and Wetherspoon were also upgraded to ‘neutral’ from ‘sell’ on valuation grounds at Goldman Sachs.

Lloyds-based underwriter Beazley Group has moved higher following favourable coverage from two brokers. UBS ups it to ‘buy’ from ‘neutral’ and Credit Suisse raises its rating to ‘outperform’ from ‘neutral’.

Bus and train group Stagecoach slips back on profit-taking after it reported a 7.6% rise in full-year pre-tax profits, helped by strong passenger volume growth across the group, and said the current year has started well.

However, the firm, which has a 49% stake in Virgin Rail, warned that there was a significant risk that Network Rail would not be able to upgrade the West Coast Main Line on time.

Pest control specialist Rentokil Initial fell after UBS lowered its rating on the stock to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’.

FTSE 250 - Risers
Beazley Group (BEZ) 111.75p +16.41%
PV Crystalox Solar (PVCS) 197.75p +7.77%
DSG International (DSGI) 45.25p +7.74%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 217.25p +6.63%
Genus (GNS) 825.00p +5.43%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 68.75p +4.96%
Northgate (NTG) 388.50p +4.93%
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) 219.25p +4.65%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 132.00p +4.35%
Senior (SNR) 103.25p +4.29%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Electrocomponents (ECM) 140.75p -8.01%
Mecom Group (MEC) 22.75p -5.21%
Stagecoach Group (SGC) 264.50p -5.03%
Dairy Crest Group (DCG) 326.50p -3.90%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 101.25p -3.80%
Soco International (SIA) 1,933.00p -3.35%
Johnston Press (JPR) 66.75p -3.26%
Davis Service Group (DVSG) 445.75p -3.10%
Aricom (ORE) 89.25p -2.46%
888 Holdings (888) 149.75p -2.44%

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