FTSE 250 movers: Home Retail leads risers over possible bidding war

The FTSE 250 was firmly in the black on Monday, up 124.90 points (0.77%) to 16,282.96 by mid-afternoon.

Home Retail Group led the risers following media reports over the weekend that Sainsbury’s could seek an extension to the Takeover Panel’s 18 March deadline, after South African retailer Steinhoff made an offer to the Argos owner.

Late on Friday, Home Retail confirmed it had received an approach from Steinhoff regarding a possible cash offer for the company at 175p per share.

Home Retail said the board was reviewing the proposal with its advisers and would make an announcement in due course.

Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said that with a market cap of about €18bn, it can be assumed that Steinhoff has the cash resources to fund the 175p bid and.

“With the Conforama chain in Europe and Harveys and Bensons in the UK, there are plenty of synergies in furnishings and electricals for them from owning Argos, so it looks like Sainsbury's has a real fight on its hands,” he said.

Dechra Pharmaceuticals saw substantial gains, with the firm reporting good revenue growth in its first half to 31 December, muted by the cost of conversion.

The company said trading in the first half was strong, with group revenue growth - including Genera - of 14.9% at constant exchange rates, or 9.7% at actual exchange rates, to £110.7m.

Underlying operating profit grew 24.2% at constant currencies - 13.9% at actual exchange rates - to £26.3m. Excluding Genera - which the group acquired in October 2015 - revenue growth was 11.1% at constant currencies, or 6.4% at actual exchange rates.

"We are pleased to report a strong performance in the first half," said Dechra chief executive Ian Page.

"All our business units are performing well, we are in the process of launching several new products, our international expansion plans are progressing as expected and we have made two strategic acquisitions," he added.

Miners, especially Vedanta Resources and Evraz, also saw large gains as commodity prices were boosted following the recent rally in global equities.

“There is also perhaps optimism that soft China Business sentiment will result in more stimulus from Beijing and that the nation’s new securities regulator will grease the wheels of the IPO market and get Chinese equities further from their recent lows, recovering lost ground not just this year, but since last summer,” said Accendo Markets’ Mike van Dulken.

However companies related to the property sector including CLS Holdings, Bellway and Zoopla Property Group all took a hit. It followed The Sunday Telegraph reporting that the market is pricing in concerns of another recession, with shares in housebuilders down about 18% during the past six months.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Home Retail Group (HOME) 173.70p 13.09%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 1,170.00p 10.17%
Drax Group (DRX) 256.80p 6.42%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 266.00p 6.27%
Evraz (EVR) 67.50p 5.30%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 162.70p 4.70%
Worldwide Healthcare Trust (WWH) 1,740.00p 3.76%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 166.00p 3.75%
esure Group (ESUR) 240.80p 3.75%
Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 362.40p 3.63%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 260.00p -5.45%
Poundland Group (PLND) 172.30p -5.02%
CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,452.00p -4.79%
Bellway (BWY) 2,547.00p -3.71%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 213.10p -3.14%
Sophos Group (SOPH) 207.60p -2.90%
Clarkson (CKN) 1,752.00p -2.72%
Ibstock (IBST) 200.00p -2.44%
Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 2,167.00p -2.17%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 378.20p -2.10%