FTSE 250 movers: Drax powers ahead; Paragon Banking retreats

London’s FTSE 250 was down 2.6% at 18,560.84 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

PageGroup, Hochschild, Redde Northgate and Clarkson all fell as they went ex-dividend.

Paragon Banking retreated even as Jefferies lifted its price target on the buy-rated stock to 700p from 680p, highlighting a high-quality loan book and a robust outlook.

Going the other way, Drax was the top performer on the index, having slumped on Wednesday amid worries about the potential for a windfall tax.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Drax Group (DRX) 655.00p 2.99%
FirstGroup (FGP) 117.90p 2.43%
Chrysalis Investments Limited NPV (CHRY) 73.50p 2.23%
Polymetal International (POLY) 214.80p 1.80%
Capricorn Energy (CNE) 234.80p 1.12%
Great Portland Estates (GPE) 502.00p 0.80%
BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. NPV (DI) (BBGI) 163.60p 0.37%
The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited (TRIG) 145.40p 0.28%
Pennon Group (PNN) 936.50p 0.27%
HICL Infrastructure (HICL) 172.60p 0.12%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Pagegroup (PAGE) 386.20p -11.05%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 59.30p -8.77%
Genus (GNS) 2,298.00p -8.66%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 132.60p -8.43%
Redde Northgate (REDD) 314.50p -8.18%
Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 494.60p -7.90%
Liontrust Asset Management (LIO) 847.00p -7.53%
Molten Ventures (GROW) 346.40p -7.33%
Clarkson (CKN) 2,800.00p -7.13%
Just Group (JUST) 67.00p -6.94%