FTSE 250 movers: Just Retirement boosted by CMA merger clearance

After an initial stumble, the FTSE 250 fought its way back into positive territory over the day,

By 1420 GMT, the UK mid-cap index was up 0.28% at just over 17,000 points, but not rising as fast as its blue chip sister index 0.85% gain.

Pharmaceutical group BTG was given a shot in the arm, traders suggested, by read-across from forecast-beating third quarter results from sector peer GlaxoSmithKline.

Just Retirement Group receive a boost as investors anticipated the CMA's clearance of its merger with Partnership Assurance Group, which was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. The annuity provider has also boosted by Henderson UK Alpha fund co-manager James Ross, who said he believes regulatory change is creating a "stunning" opportunity for underappreciated companies like JRG and Partnership. Ross, who has taken positions in both, said the upcoming Solvency II regulation will ensure annuities have a future despite no longer being compulsory and feels that this is being overlooked by the market.

Bwin.Party was another riser, as the online gaming group reported a 5% gain in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation compared to the same period last year, which if excluding the EU VAT charges, would have increased by 26%. The company, which last month agreed to be taken over by rival GVC Holdings, said the process was continuing as hoped and this would enable the transaction to complete in early 2016.

Shares in Telecity only moved 0.34% on Wednesday, but over the last month are up 8.5% with the group confirming today that it was on track to meet its full-year expectations, although revenue growth will be at the low end of its guidance. A trading update said nine-months organic revenue on a constant currency basis grew 7.2% year-on-year, while underlying revenue grew 9.7% thanks to a sharp improvement in its UK performance.

Shares in Petra Diamonds continued to lose their lustre after the release of a first-quarter trading update, as a 1% increase in production was coupled with a 9% decline in selling prices at its initial diamond tender auction. Analysts at Investec said the recent news flow on diamonds has bearish, but the fact the company's management have not changed pricing guidance for now is a positive, with operational guidance also unchanged and the South African rand's weakness helping to offset weaker revenues.

FTSE 250 - Risers

BTG (BTG) 562.00p 4.46%
Just Retirement Group (JRG) 167.90p 3.64%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 149.30p 3.11%
Halfords Group (HFD) 441.50p 3.06%
Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 1,073.00p 2.98%
Hunting (HTG) 366.30p 2.86%
Greggs (GRG) 1,177.00p 2.08%
Synthomer (SYNT) 336.00p 2.00%
Savills (SVS) 891.50p 1.94%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 108.20 1.88%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 69.20p -13.98%
Cobham (COB) 278.70p -4.13%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 1,968.00p -4.00%
Foxtons Group (FOXT) 196.20p -3.87%
Senior (SNR) 228.30p -3.83%
SIG (SHI) 128.00p -3.54%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 110.70p -3.49%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 246.50p -3.37%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 387.80p -2.78%
Enterprise Inns (ETI) 101.70p -2.68%