FTSE 250 movers: Retail stocks enjoy late Christmas boom, energy and mining stay mixed

Retail stocks were receiving a boost in the lead up to Christmas, including Home Retail Group. The food retail sector was also doing very well, with Ocado Group, Mitchells & Butlers and Greggs all trading positively. “But so far this year the sector is cumulatively down by as much as 36.3% (ie c34% worse than the All-Share index) and it therefore remains easily the worst performing sector in the market this year,” said retailing analyst and consultant Nick Bubb.

Kier Group was increasing after the news that it had secured a contract with Thames Water for a new £1bn alliance. Haydn Mursell, chief executive of Kier, said: "With this contract, Kier further demonstrates its strengthened integrated construction and services capabilities following the acquisition of May Gurney last year.”

Energy stocks were mixed on Monday as crude futures fluctuated. Nostrum Oil & Gas and Afren were both rising while Soco International was trading in the red. Afren confirmed on Monday that it has received “a highly preliminary approach” from SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company about potentially combining with it.

Mining stocks were also mixed as gold futures were trading slightly down. Steel-miner Evraz was topping the risers list while gold-mining company Centamin was declining.

FTSE 250 - Risers
Evraz (EVR) 143.90p +10.61%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 456.20p +8.62%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 2,046.00p +8.31%
Polymetal International (POLY) 585.50p +6.45%
Afren (AFR) 50.30p +5.74%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 201.20p +4.96%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 373.50p +3.75%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 395.70p +3.72%
Kier Group (KIE) 1,480.00p +3.06%
Greggs (GRG) 725.00p +2.76%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 198.00p -6.52%
Synthomer (SYNT) 222.30p -5.08%
IP Group (IPO) 218.00p -4.34%
Soco International (SIA) 295.40p -4.31%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 203.70p -3.05%
RPC Group (RPC) 520.00p -2.80%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 56.70p -2.58%
Renishaw (RSW) 1,964.00p -2.48%
Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 5,645.00p -2.08%
Alent (ALNT) 329.60p -2.05%