FTSE 250 movers: Kier crumples, Centamin shines

London's FTSE 250 was down 0.59% at 18,859.25 in afternoon trade on Monday, with Kier leading the index lower as its share price dove by more than 30%.

The troubled construction company was the top faller, plummeting after it reported that full year underlying operating profit would be £25m lower than previous expectations with higher net debts.

Ian Forrest, investment research analyst at The Share Centre, said: "The company is now carrying out a strategic review and investors will hope that some good news emerges from that on 30 July when it is due to report. Dividends are already expected to drop by 75% this year and that could worsen further as the year goes on. While we don’t have a formal view on the company today’s announcement had a bleak tone and investors should be extremely wary."

Royal Mail was also lower as analysts at Jefferies cut the stock's price target from 220p to 170p and stated that the postalcarrier's greatest problem was UK activity, which analysts said was 50% below the sector average.

At the other end of the scales, precious metals miners Centamin and Hochschild Mining climbed higher after gold prices leapt to a nine-week high as global stock markets sold off.

Wizz Air flew higher after analysts at Berenberg stated that they continued expect the low-cost airline to return "compelling earnings growth" with projected earnings per share growth of 15% despite IFRS 16 accounting changes potentially muddling progress.

Finally, Britvic edged higher after analysts at Shore Capital Markets kept their 'hold' rating on in place following a "solid enough" set of first-half results from the beverage maker.

Analysts from the broker said Britvic was showing "encouraging signs" of becoming a "more agile and competitive company" but cautioned that, with the stock having gently re-rated since its 2018 full-year results, it has opted to "remain on the sidelines" for now.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 18,859.25 -0.59%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 95.42p 7.38%
Amigo Holdings (AMGO) 264.50p 6.65%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 163.90p 5.74%
Contour Global (GLO) 202.00p 4.66%
Funding Circle Holdings (FCH) 242.00p 2.98%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 3,212.00p 2.49%
Mediclinic International (MDC) 307.90p 1.95%
Vivo Energy (VVO) 128.60p 1.90%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,986.00p 1.74%
Britvic (BVIC) 905.30p 1.72%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Kier Group (KIE) 170.30p -38.79%
Metro Bank (MTRO) 628.00p -8.12%
Stobart Group Ltd. (STOB) 111.60p -6.53%
Ascential (ASCL) 364.40p -5.01%
Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 415.80p -4.85%
Indivior (INDV) 43.84p -4.20%
Royal Mail (RMG) 196.60p -4.19%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 151.80p -4.05%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 150.60p -3.95%
FirstGroup (FGP) 110.80p -3.90%