FTSE 250 movers: Commodities cause market to slide

The FTSE 250 continued to slide on Tuesday, dropping 94.11 points (0.55%) mid-afternoon to 16,892.84 after much weaker than expected data on Chinese imports in September.

Natural resource related companies were the biggest fallers of the day. Evraz led the pack on the back of gold and other precious metal prices falling. Kaz Minerals also dipped with copper prices going the same way as the share price.

Oil companies Tullow Oil and Premier Oil also were affected by commodity prices, with a small dip in the price of oil causing repercussions for the companies’ share prices.

However housebuilder Bellway's 44% rise in full year profits to £354.2m helped stem the flow.

Revenues at the Newcastle-headquartered group rose 18.9% to almost £1.77bn in the year to 31 July, with the profits beating forecast thanks to a 290-basis point expansion of gross margins and 320bps of operating margins.

Sophos Group also had a positive day after Liberium Capital initiated coverage of the stock, telling investors to buy and setting a target price of 290p.

Risers

Bellway (BWY) 2,472.00p +4.30%

Sophos Group (SOPH) 232.60p +3.56%

Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 530.00p +3.31%

BTG (BTG) 576.00p +2.86%

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 540.50p +2.85%

Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 329.20p +2.71%

Michael Page International (MPI) 476.70p +2.69%

CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,800.00p +2.68%

Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 364.90p +2.44%

Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 946.00p +1.78%

Fallers

Evraz (EVR) 85.90p -9.05%

Weir Group (WEIR) 1,259.00p -6.60%

Tullow Oil (TLW) 229.60p -5.16%

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 137.10p -5.12%

Premier Oil (PMO) 85.35p -4.37%

IMI (IMI) 1,013.00p -4.07%

Home Retail Group (HOME) 144.30p -3.93%

Ophir Energy (OPHR) 101.10p -3.62%

Vedanta Resources (VED) 582.00p -3.56%

Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 214.90p -3.20%