FTSE 250 movers: IPF higher on upgrade, oil stocks and miners lower

Shares in International Personal Finance shot up after Berenberg Bank upgraded its rating on the stock to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’. “While FX and regulatory fears are weighing on the shares, IPF is exposed to significant long-term growth opportunities,” said Berenberg.

Hospital group Spire Healthcare saw its shares go down on Tuesday despite posting full-year results in line with expectations. Annual profit for 2014 fell 94% to £6m, driving earnings per share down from 40.9p to 1.9p. Cash and equivalents also dropped to £74.5m from £111.5m the year before. As a result, Numis downgraded its rating on the stock from 'buy' to 'hold' and reduced its price target to 380p from 390p

Halfords surged as it appointed Jill McDonald as its new chief executive officer, effective 11 May 2015. McDonald is currently working for the McDonald’s Corporation, which she joined in 2006 as chief marketing officer UK and Northern Europe.

Halfords chairman Dennis Millard said: "I'm really excited that we have attracted someone of Jill's calibre who will build on what we've achieved over the last few years and we all really look forward to working with her."

Oil stocks were trading lower, including Soco International, Premier Oil and Tullow Oil. Miners Vedanta Resources, Lonmin and Kaz Minerals were also weaker.

Risers
International Personal Finance (IPF) 508.50p +8.54%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 180.00p +4.05%
Just Eat (JE.) 371.30p +3.83%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 147.00p +3.38%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 231.40p +2.89%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 445.60p +2.79%
Halfords Group (HFD) 463.70p +2.54%
Inchcape (INCH) 824.00p +2.36%
Redefine International (RDI) 59.30p +2.24%
Betfair Group (BET) 2,222.00p +2.21%

Fallers
Vedanta Resources (VED) 530.50p -7.17%
Soco International (SIA) 162.60p -6.71%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 365.00p -6.41%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 219.30p -5.43%
Premier Oil (PMO) 142.80p -4.10%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 347.90p -4.00%
Enterprise Inns (ETI) 99.55p -3.35%
Lonmin (LMI) 130.40p -3.05%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 313.50p -2.94%
Cobham (COB) 310.20p -2.61%