FTSE 250 movers: Oil stocks gain, Bovis Homes falls despite profit gains

The energy sector was dominating the risers list on Thursday as oil prices began to rebound slightly. Afren, Premier Oil, Soco International and Cairn Energy were all on the incline.

Savills was also increasing after the estate agency said revenues and profits in December had "significantly exceed[ed] our previous forecasts". Changes in UK stamp duty helped boost profits for the firm, which was able to upgrade its 2014 earnings outlook.

Meanwhile, housebuilder Bovis Homes was falling as it expects to see increased volumes in 2015 but at a slower rate of growth than 2014. The reported sales rate per site had also fallen below that of its peer group at just 0.54 per week.

Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail was also in the red after like-for-like sales in the third quarter came in well behind analysts' estimates.

FTSE 250 - Risers
Afren (AFR) 26.08p +19.96%
Polymetal International (POLY) 595.00p +10.29%
Savills (SVS) 699.00p +7.21%
Premier Oil (PMO) 139.80p +5.91%
Soco International (SIA) 261.10p +4.27%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 169.60p +3.67%
Serco Group (SRP) 158.80p +3.18%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 294.40p +2.94%
Game Digital (GMD) 249.00p +2.89%
Aveva Group (AVV) 1,310.00p +2.75%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 759.00p -7.38%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 380.30p -6.83%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 319.00p -6.12%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 157.70p -5.79%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 199.80p -5.75%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 704.00p -5.12%
IP Group (IPO) 216.60p -4.58%
Booker Group (BOK) 155.20p -4.55%
Enterprise Inns (ETI) 106.10p -4.41%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,264.00p -4.35%