LONDON (ShareCast) - Shares in sub-prime lender Provident Financial powered ahead after it posted a 34% rise in first-half profit and saw a 7% increase in customers at its main consumer credit division.

The group, which specialises in loans under £500, said pre-tax profit rose to £51.3m in the six months to 30 June while sales increased 11% to £324m.

Microchip designer ARM is wanted after it reported slightly better first half pre-tax profits and reiterated its full-year guidance. Pre-tax profit increased to £24.2m in the six months ended 30 June compared with £23.86m last time. Revenue also rose slightly to £132.9m from £132m.

Bellway falls back after Goldman Sachs downgraded the house builder to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’ in a review of the European housing sector. Taylor Wimpey also declines.

FTSE 250 - Risers
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 430.50p +10.53%
Provident Financial (PFG) 880.00p +7.32%
Aricom (ORE) 53.50p +7.00%
Investec (INVP) 341.00p +6.56%
Yell Group (YELL) 76.50p +6.25%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 300.00p +5.91%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 96.75p +5.16%
Quintain Estates & Development (QED) 168.00p +5.00%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 247.00p +4.77%
Mapeley (MAY) 1,145.00p +4.47%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Moneysupermarket.com (MONY) 79.00p -6.51%
Bellway (BWY) 487.50p -5.43%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 42.50p -5.03%
Dana Petroleum (DNX) 1,406.00p -5.00%
Regus Group (RGU) 70.00p -4.11%
Berkeley Group Holdings Units (BKG) 728.50p -3.70%
Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 2,523.00p -3.70%
De La Rue (DLAR) 842.50p -3.66%
Salamander Energy (SMDR) 264.00p -3.56%
Bradford & Bingley (BB.) 55.50p -3.06%

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