FTSE 250 movers: AJ Bell gains; Close Brothers goes ex-div

London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.8% at 17,260.73 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

AJ Bell rose as the investment platform delivered an impressive pre-close trading update, with customer numbers rising by 12% and net inflows surpassing the £4bn mark against what it called a "challenging market backdrop".

Direct Line was also a high riser after Sabre Insurance upped its full-year guidance.

Hipgnosis was in the black as it announced a strategic review. Shares in the music rights owner fell sharply earlier this week after it scrapped its interim dividend in order to make sure it complies with its debt covenants, amid expectations of lower payments from its US catalogue.

Spire Healthcare advanced as the private healthcare provider said that it had bought Vita Health Group, a provider of mental and physical health services in the UK, for around £74m in cash.

Close Brothers was down as it traded without entitlement to the dividend.

FTSE 250 - Risers

AJ Bell (AJB) 268.20p 5.42%
Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 163.35p 3.98%
Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust (HSL) 685.00p 3.16%
Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited NPV (SONG) 75.30p 3.15%
Dr. Martens (DOCS) 118.90p 2.59%
NCC Group (NCC) 107.60p 2.48%
IP Group (IPO) 48.30p 2.22%
Darktrace (DARK) 359.20p 2.16%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 79.70p 2.05%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 220.00p 1.85%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Close Brothers Group (CBG) 775.50p -6.34%
Mobico Group (MCG) 56.25p -5.86%
Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) 223.20p -5.42%
888 Holdings (DI) (888) 79.50p -3.87%
Abrdn (ABDN) 154.20p -3.59%
Renishaw (RSW) 3,232.00p -3.52%
LXI Reit (LXI) 85.40p -3.50%
Tate & Lyle (TATE) 622.50p -3.49%
Diversified Energy Company (DEC) 71.45p -3.45%
Mitie Group (MTO) 96.80p -3.20%