FTSE 250 movers: Energy shares fall; WH Smith boosted by broker note

London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.3% at 19,089.00 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.

Tullow Oil and Energean both fell in tandem with oil prices.

Going the other way, WH Smith was a high riser as Berenberg encouraged investors to "revisit the story" ahead of its trading update next week, given the company's defensive growth profile and its limited exposure to cost inflation.

Berenberg said the retailer’s North American expansion story can drive shareholder returns for years to come.

The bank, which rates the stock at ‘buy’ with a 1,900p price target, also said concerns about the exposure of the travel division to an economic slowdown are misplaced.

Insurers Lancashire and Beazley were also on the front foot.

FTSE 250 - Risers

4Imprint Group (FOUR) 3,865.00p 3.20%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,444.50p 3.18%
Trainline (TRN) 349.20p 3.01%
Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 492.00p 2.84%
Beazley (BEZ) 581.50p 2.38%
Hammerson (HMSO) 21.84p 2.25%
easyJet (EZJ) 362.80p 1.97%
TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) 145.60p 1.96%
The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited (TRIG) 146.00p 1.96%
Carnival (CCL) 743.20p 1.89%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Tullow Oil (TLW) 48.94p -5.52%
Drax Group (DRX) 635.50p -5.22%
Indivior (INDV) 285.20p -4.49%
Energean (ENOG) 1,296.00p -4.14%
LondonMetric Property (LMP) 218.40p -3.11%
Fidelity Emerging Markets Limited Ptg NPV (FEML) 612.00p -2.84%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 96.80p -2.81%
Capricorn Energy (CNE) 231.80p -2.77%
Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX) 167.50p -2.73%
888 Holdings (DI) (888) 121.40p -2.49%