FTSE 250 movers: Miners lower, WH Smith continues higher on franchise partner offers

Mining stocks were trading lower, a result of widespread fluctuation in metal prices and Credit Suisse revealing that industrial metals performed poorly in March. Evraz, Vedanta Resources and Petra Diamonds were all in the red.

Serco Group dipped as Fitch Ratings warned that the general election would take its toll on utility stocks. The outsourcing giant's attempts to plug the hole in its balance sheet with a £555m rights issue failed to reassure investors.

Debenhams was boosted by a bullish update from Citigroup, following Thursday's better-than-expected interims.

Hunting shares scooted higher after Goldman Sachs applied a 'conviction buy' rating to the oilfield services group.

WH Smith continued higher on Thursday's news that it would offer independent newsagents the opportunity to become franchise partners and operate as smaller WH Smith Locals.

Pennon Group climbed after announcing plans on Thursday to buy Bournemouth Water for £100m from Singaporean investor SembCorp, in an effort to expand its business into the non-household market.

Risers
QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 201.90p +3.49%
Debenhams (DEB) 87.80p +3.42%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,428.00p +3.10%
Pennon Group (PNN) 857.00p +2.57%
Hunting (HTG) 612.00p +1.75%
Laird (LRD) 352.40p +1.70%
Clarkson (CKN) 2,243.00p +1.49%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,334.00p +1.48%
Unite Group (UTG) 589.50p +1.38%
Telecom Plus (TEP) 794.50p +1.21%

Fallers
Evraz (EVR) 192.70p -6.18%
NMC Health (NMC) 683.50p -5.85%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 229.30p -5.13%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 546.00p -4.88%
Allied Minds (ALM) 665.00p -4.66%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 351.50p -3.96%
Rotork (ROR) 2,539.00p -3.93%
Premier Oil (PMO) 168.30p -3.83%
Henderson Group (HGG) 284.60p -3.69%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 78.00p -3.23%