FTSE 250 movers: AO World surges but energy-related stocks slump on oil price

London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.3% to 17,417.09 at 1430 GMT, tracking broader gains as equity markets recouped last week’s losses.

Shares in AO World surged on Monday after the online electrical appliance retailer said fund manager Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb has taken a 5% stake in the business.

The investment firm, which runs the $7.2bn Sequoia Fund, took a 5.4% interest in AO last week.

Late last month, AO World said it swung to an interim loss, despite posting a sharp increase in first half revenue.

In the six months to 30 September, the FTSE 250 group reported a £8.9m operating loss compared with a profit of £0.9m in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose 21.7% year-on-year to £264.3m.

Man Group was also a high riser after Citigroup upgraded the stock to ‘buy’ from ‘neutral’ and lifted the price target to 186p from 164p.

It said Man remains a strongly cash generative business, with no net debt and a well-covered dividend at 4.3% yield.

Citi expects Man to use its cash to "cherry pick" deals to round out its alternative investments offering , perhaps adding private equity/illiquid assets products, or US distribution.

Shares in Serco fell sharply after the outsourcer said it expects revenue and trading profit to fall in 2016 partly due to the disposal of its offshore call centre, although underlying profit for 2015 is expected to be ahead of guidance.

Serco said it now expects revenue of around £2.8bn and underlying trading profit of around £50m in 2016. The group said the exit of private sector BPO operations will reduce revenue by around £300m.

Still, the company said underlying trading profit for 2015 is likely to be approximately £95m, a little higher than previous guidance of £90m.

On the downside, energy-related stocks were on the back foot as oil prices fell after the OPEC meeting failed to lead to production cuts. Premier Oil, Tullow Oil, Petrofac, Hunting, Wood Group and Ophir Energy were all under the cosh.

Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One was lower after a bond issue led to downgrades. Broker Canaccord Genuity, for instance, cut its price target on the stock to 284p from 323p.

On Friday, ETO announced the pricing of £285m 6.875% senior secured notes due December 2022. The funds are being used to repay the company's existing credit facilities, pay fees and expenses related to the offer and for general corporate purposes.

Said the broker: “We think investors will be disappointed by a refinancing of existing debt facilities that has essentially led to a 9.0% cut in FY17E EPS, long before its existing facility expired in January 2018, and ahead of what management believes to be a very strong film slate in 2016."

FTSE 250 - Risers

AO World (AO.) 173.50p 6.44%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 190.90p 3.69%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 110.20p 3.57%
Clarkson (CKN) 2,418.00p 3.42%
CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,719.00p 3.18%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 111.00p 2.68%
Man Group (EMG) 167.10p 2.52%
Shawbrook Group (SHAW) 357.20p 2.41%
Evraz (EVR) 78.00p 2.09%
BGEO Group (BGEO) 1,957.00p 2.09%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Serco Group (SRP) 105.30p -7.87%
Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 192.60p -7.31%
Premier Oil (PMO) 60.35p -7.15%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 177.20p -5.89%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 772.50p -4.75%
Hunting (HTG) 307.50p -4.62%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 530.00p -3.99%
Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 628.50p -3.97%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 346.90p -3.56%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 92.25p -2.89%