FTSE 250 movers: Darktrace tumbles; Energean gushes higher

London’s FTSE 250 was 0.3% lower at 18,752.58 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

Darktrace tumbled after tech investment firm Thoma Bravo said it will not be making an offer for the cybersecurity group. Darktrace said in a statement that the two parties had been unable to reach an agreement on the terms of an offer.

AJ bell also slumped after Jefferies downgraded the shares to ‘underperform’ from ‘hold’, citing a "darkening near-term outlook and a relatively high multiple".

The bank, which cut its price target on AJ Bell to 220p from 240p, said its December upgrade to ‘hold’ was premature.

Animal genetics company Genus and hydrocarbon exploration and production group Energean were high risers after well-received results.

Pub group Mitchells & Butlers also rose after news of the government’s new energy support package.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Genus (GNS) 2,754.00p 14.85%
Energean (ENOG) 1,382.00p 11.00%
Chrysalis Investments Limited NPV (CHRY) 73.00p 4.58%
Polymetal International (POLY) 213.60p 3.69%
Drax Group (DRX) 713.00p 3.18%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 160.50p 2.49%
XP Power Ltd. (DI) (XPP) 1,842.00p 2.45%
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 447.50p 2.43%
Bellevue Healthcare Trust (Red) (BBH) 169.80p 2.29%
SSP Group (SSPG) 213.10p 2.16%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Darktrace (DARK) 339.90p -33.97%
AJ Bell (AJB) 252.00p -10.00%
IntegraFin Holding (IHP) 256.60p -5.66%
ASOS (ASC) 659.50p -5.58%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 115.90p -5.00%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 2,000.00p -4.35%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 300.60p -4.02%
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 689.50p -3.77%
ITV (ITV) 61.88p -3.76%
Currys (CURY) 63.25p -3.66%