FTSE 250 movers: Games Workshop rolls a six, IG Group dives
London's FTSE 250 was up 0.12% at 20,524.35 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Tabletop gaming chain Games Workshop was the afternoon's standout performer after announcing a day earlier that it would pay another dividend after generating strong levels cash in the first quarter of its financial year.
A 35p interim dividend was declared by the retailer, which the board said was in line with the company's policy to distribute truly surplus cash, and will be paid on 2 November.
Aveva was also on the rise after Barclays upgraded the outfit's shares to 'overweight' from 'equalweight' on Thursday and lifted the price target to 3,150p from 2,800p following the company's capital markets day a day earlier.
"Trading momentum remains solid, particularly in the heritage Aveva business, a 30% adjusted EBIT margin is an ambitious yet achievable target and, if the sales integration is truly successful, we see upside to the mid-single digit revenue guidance," said the broker.
Retirement products provider Just Group was given a leg up by RBC Capital Markets, as it said that a rights issue - which the share price is factoring in - will not be required.
Construction, services and property group Kier pushed as it posted a 9% rise in underlying full-year pre-tax profit thanks to a solid performance from all of its divisions and despite turbulence in its markets following the liquidation of Carillion.
The sinking of Carillion resulting in the company buying a greater share of the HS2 project and Highways England's Smart Motorways programme - a move that benefited its order book.
Pumps specialist Weir was lifted to 'overweight' by Morgan Stanley, with the broker also cutting its price target to 2120p from 2240p.
Financial derivatives trader IG Group was the top tumbler in afternoon trade after reporting a 5% drop in first-quarter revenue as it took a hit from lower client activity and new EU regulatory measures.
"The volume of trading by clients categorised as retail clients in the UK and EU was, as expected, significantly lower in August than in July following the implementation of the ESMA measures. It is not possible to draw firm conclusions from a one month period as it will take time for retail clients to adapt to the new rules and change their trading behaviour," said the company.
Client numbers were down in the UK, EMEA and US, though a 54% rise in its stockbroking services meant group overall client numbers rose 3% to 129,000.
Spire Healthcare continued to drop following the release of a “disappointing” set of first-half results and downbeat outlook on Tuesday.
Market Movers
FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,524.35 0.12%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Games Workshop Group (GAW) 3,869.10p 7.18%
Aveva Group (AVV) 3,000.00p 5.56%
Just Group (JUST) 75.00p 5.34%
UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 657.50p 4.28%
Energean Oil & Gas (ENOG) 570.00p 4.01%
HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited A Shs (HVPE) 1,408.00p 3.68%
Kier Group (KIE) 1,078.00p 3.65%
Weir Group (WEIR) 1,791.50p 3.11%
Convatec Group (CTEC) 234.80p 3.03%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 221.20p 2.88%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 801.00p -7.29%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 156.70p -4.45%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 361.20p -3.83%
Rank Group (RNK) 170.80p -3.17%
Sirius Minerals (SXX) 29.12p -3.00%
Redrow (RDW) 584.00p -2.59%
Capita (CPI) 143.15p -2.12%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 474.70p -2.02%
Playtech (PTEC) 488.60p -1.83%
International Public Partnerships Ltd. (INPP) 151.12p -1.74%