FTSE 250 movers: Ferrexpo, Evraz shine but Greene King fizzes lower

London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.1% to 18,726.25 in afternoon trade, holding close to record highs.

Iron ore and steel specialists Ferrexpo and Evraz racked up healthy gains, with iron ore trading at around $90 a tonne and the price nearly doubling in the last 12 months.

Software provider Fidessa advanced after it declared both a final and special dividend, with profits strongly boosted by the weak pound.

On the downside, pub group Greene King was on the back foot. Although the company reported strong Christmas trading on Friday, investors were worried about the slowdown in November and January.

Nichcolas Hyett at Hargreaves Lansdown said: “We feel the group could struggle in the near term, as consumer spending is squeezed by lower sterling, but its freehold estate and potential self-help measures mean it should be more than capable of weathering the storm.”

Peers Mitchells & Butlers and Marston’s also declined.

Risers

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 172.90p 5.43%
Spectris (SXS) 2,423.00p 3.59%
Evraz (EVR) 256.50p 3.34%
Vectura Group (VEC) 145.40p 2.97%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (ASL) 1,200.00p 2.92%
Allied Minds (ALM) 399.70p 2.88%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,102.00p 2.04%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,448.00p 2.00%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 334.60p 1.92%
FirstGroup (FGP) 117.80p 1.64%

Fallers

Greene King (GNK) 651.00p -3.77%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 255.60p -1.96%
Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,465.00p -1.61%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 186.50p -1.58%
Britvic (BVIC) 625.00p -1.42%
Beazley (BEZ) 424.60p -1.37%
RPC Group (RPC) 910.00p -1.36%
Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 152.90p -1.35%
Marston's (MARS) 132.10p -1.34%
Senior (SNR) 191.30p -1.34%