FTSE 250 movers: Financials, Softcat lead index as it recovers pre-invasion levels

Financials did best out on the second-tier index as the domestically-focused benchmark notched up a second consecutive week of gains, finishing above where it stood the day before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Bridgepoint, TP Icap and Fidelity China Special Situations were all among the best performing issues on Friday, with the latter benefitting from recent talk in Beijing of further government stimulus.

Nonetheless, at the individual company level it was IT infrastructure and services provider Softcat that did best, after analysts at Berenberg upgraded their recommendation on the company to 'buy' from 'hold' and reiterated their 1,900.0p price target on the stock.

"With the shares now off 28% since highs, 200 basis points worse than our mid-cap TMT (technology, media and telecoms) universe, we think now is the time to look again."

FTSE 250 - Risers

Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) (BPT) 300.00p 7.14%

Softcat (SCT) 1,727.00p 6.02%

TP Icap Group (TCAP) 122.00p 5.35%

Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) 269.50p 5.07%

Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 147.50p 4.98%

Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,160.00p 4.35%

TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) 189.40p 4.07%

Auction Technology Group (ATG) 1,090.00p 4.01%

Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) 235.00p 3.98%

OSB Group (OSB) 566.00p 3.95%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Reach (RCH) 187.60p -5.54%

Sirius Real Estate Ltd. (SRE) 124.00p -4.02%

NCC Group (NCC) 178.40p -3.46%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 90.54p -3.23%

SSP Group (SSPG) 246.90p -3.10%

Capita (CPI) 21.01p -3.00%

TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 234.00p -2.82%

Workspace Group (WKP) 653.50p -2.54%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 895.80p -2.48%

Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 379.60p -2.42%