FTSE 250 movers: Al Noor leads the way, housing stocks drop

The FTSE 250 was down 79.98 points (0.47%) mid-afternoon to 16,818.05, with a weaker than expected data on Chinese consumer prices for September weighing on sentiment.

Al Noor led the pack on the back of news that it had reached an agreement on the terms of a possible merger with Mediclinic. Under the proposed deal, Al Noor will acquire Mediclinic with shareholders receiving 0.625 new shares for each Mediclinic share held. Al Noor shareholders will also receive a special dividend of £3.28 per share and the opportunity to tender their shares for a cash payment.

Domino’s Pizza was also piping hot after it said full-year results are likely to be ahead of its expectations following a strong performance in the third quarter and a solid start to the fourth quarter. For the 13 weeks to 27 September, like-for-like sales in the UK rose 14.9% to £200m, driven by the company’s continued investment in digital channels.

Specialist online and home shopping fashion retailer N Brown impressed investors despite posting half-year results that showed a decline in profits as it from direct mail to digital. The group lifted revenues 4.2% to £415.8m but saw operating profits sag 14.2% to £38.8m and statutory pre-tax profits plummet 54.6% to £19.4m. However, this had been previously flagged.

The housing sector was the biggest loser of the day, reversing Tuesday's strong gains. Countrywide, Foxtons Group and Galliford Try were among the top 10 fallers.

Risers

AL Noor Hospitals Group (ANH) 1,177.00p +18.35%

Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 1,014.00p +13.93%

Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 337.10p +6.68%

Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 348.60p +4.97%

Electrocomponents (ECM) 210.40p +3.39%

Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 220.40p +2.89%

CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,800.00p +2.80%

Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 100.10p +2.72%

Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 521.50p +2.46%

Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 378.40p +2.30%

Fallers

Countrywide (CWD) 460.80p -5.86%

Foxtons Group (FOXT) 220.10p -3.93%

Renishaw (RSW) 1,918.00p -3.76%

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 129.30p -3.36%

Worldwide Healthcare Trust (WWH) 1,643.00p -2.78%

Galliford Try (GFRD) 1,528.00p -2.74%

Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) 56.70p -2.49%

Aggreko (AGK) 1,003.00p -2.34%

Laird (LRD) 360.60p -2.25%

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 528.00p -2.22%