FTSE 250 movers: Insurance worries sends Moneysupermarket.com falling

The FTSE 250 was set to close at its lowest point for 2016, with the market already down 256.85 points (1.56%) to 16,156.42 by mid-afternoon Friday.

Moneysupermarket.com was the market’s biggest faller after the company’s fourth quarter insurance revenues were hit by stronger competitor marketing activity than anticipated. Revenues for that division fell 10%, down to £28.9m. The company said initiatives are underway to bring momentum back to the insurance business in 2016.

However the group’s full-year revenues are expected to grow 14% for the year to £281.7m across the group. All parts of the business saw revenue growth with money and home services the big winners, rising 23% to £72.4m and 68% to £37.5m respectively. Insurance grew 2% in the year to £140.2m.

The global downturn in stocks has hit shares in investment firms Jupiter Fund Management and Fidessa Group, as well as lenders Aldermore Group and Virgin Money Holdings, seeing them all feature in the fallers list. Since the start of the year, the FTSE 250 has lost over 7%.

Falling oil prices affected Rotork and Tullow Oil, as it stayed below $30 a barrel despite predictions earlier in the week that crude prices would recover sharply in the back half of 2016.

Some market commentary ascribed the downdraft in the oil patch mainly to news that China’s central bank had pumped $15bn into the country’s financial system on Friday through a medium-term lending facility, in a bid to maintain liquidity in the country’s banking system. That headline prompted renewed warnings from some analysts about global deflationary pressures and the risk of further losses in global stockmarkets.

On a more positive note, Tate & Lyle bucked the trend following an encouraging capital markets day. Liberum, which reiterated its ‘buy’ rating on the stock, said Tate hosted a “confident” CMD focused on the group’s Speciality Food Ingredients unit.

The broker said Tate laid out credible plans to deliver its ambition to transform the group into a materially SFI-focused business by 2020. “Over the past 18 months, Tate has significantly upgraded SFI’s capabilities and skills while realigning the group's portfolio to benefit from global demand for healthier and convenient foods. We were impressed by the SFI team and believe they are well positioned to outperform end-market growth of 4-5% growth and expand margins.” Liberum expects Tate's recovery to lead to improving free cash flow generation as margins rebound.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 66.05p 4.02%
Tate & Lyle (TATE) 602.00p 3.17%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 1,135.00p 2.99%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 126.00p 2.02%
Genus (GNS) 1,407.00p 1.96%
Mitie Group (MTO) 290.10p 1.36%
Card Factory (CARD) 349.80p 1.22%
Essentra (ESNT) 754.00p 1.14%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 333.10p 0.97%
Dignity (DTY) 2,303.00p 0.92%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 312.40p -11.05%
Pendragon (PDG) 41.30p -10.70%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 386.80p -8.01%
Aldermore Group (ALD) 182.70p -6.31%
Rotork (ROR) 159.70p -6.11%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 1,805.00p -5.94%
Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 299.30p -5.88%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 130.70p -5.84%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 254.00p -5.58%
Circassia Pharmaceuticals (CIR) 306.00p -5.23%