FTSE 250 movers: Miners shine but Northgate skids lower as profit drops

London's FTSE 250 index was down 0.8% to 19,530.79 in afternoon trade.

Miners Ferrexpo, Vedanta and Kaz Minerals all advanced as China Premier Li Keqiang said the country - a big consumer of metals - is capable of achieving its full-year growth target. Also providing a boost was news that profit growth in China's industrial sector picked up in May.

On the downside, Northgate shares skidded as the vehicle hire firm said a weaker performance in the UK contributed to a drop in full-year pre-tax profits to £72.2m from £77.6m. The company said the results were hit by a lower number of vehicles on hire in the UK and an adverse impact of £5.7m from changes in depreciation rates.

Gambling software company Playtech lost ground as its founder, Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi, sold a bigger-than-expected stake in the group on the back of strong investor demand. Brickington Trading Ltd, a subsidiary of a trust of which Sagi is the beneficiary, sold 36.5m shares at 924p each. Playtech had said on Monday that the sale would be around 32m shares.

Housebuilder Crest Nicholson retreated as it hosted an event for analysts and investors.

Risers

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 196.70p 4.52%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 612.00p 3.82%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 488.30p 3.72%
Hunting (HTG) 477.10p 1.81%
Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 270.50p 1.50%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 178.20p 1.42%
Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 482.10p 1.24%
Sirius Minerals (SXX) 32.80p 1.23%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 661.50p 1.22%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 150.40p 1.21%

Fallers

Northgate (NTG) 455.80p -14.32%
Polypipe Group (PLP) 384.30p -4.64%
William Hill (WMH) 250.90p -4.38%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,542.00p -3.14%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 468.10p -3.06%
Playtech (PTEC) 963.50p -3.02%
AA (AA.) 218.70p -2.54%
Essentra (ESNT) 567.50p -2.32%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 522.00p -2.25%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 1,760.00p -2.22%