FTSE 250 movers: Synergy Health plunges on Steris takeover speculation, energy stocks lower

UK stocks rebounded from the previous session's sell-off as gains made by tobacco, electronics and utilities outweighed weakness in mining and industrial metals.

As of 14:00, the FTSE 250 was trading points 101.1 points higher at 18,200.

Synergy Health topped the fallers, plummeting almost 17% on rumours that US regulators might block the takeover by rival Steris.

Banknote printer De La Rue also plunged 9% after posting a steep decline in annual profits amid ongoing pricing pressures and giving a cautious outlook for the current year. The shares were downgraded by some brokers.

Some of the fizz went out of Irn Bru maker AG Barr after sales fell 1.1% year-on-year in the first quarter.

Insurers Beazley and Hiscox were both higher after JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded the stocks to 'overweight'.

Zoopla was lifted as Credit Suisse raised its price target from 225p to 290p and reiterated its 'outperform' rating.

Oil and energy stocks including Premier Oil, Ophir Energy and Infinis Energy continued to decline from Tuesday's lower oil prices. Another note from Credit Suisse warned investors to expect near-term weakening in oil.

Risers
Beazley (BEZ) 300.90p +6.29%
Spectris (SXS) 2,414.00p +3.56%
Hiscox Limited (CDI) (HSX) 858.00p +3.12%
RPS Group (RPS) 231.60p +3.12%
Electrocomponents (ECM) 242.40p +3.02%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 518.50p +2.88%
Betfair Group (BET) 2,692.00p +2.79%
Greggs (GRG) 1,208.00p +2.55%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,326.00p +2.55%
Essentra (ESNT) 985.50p +2.39%

Fallers
Synergy Health (SYR) 1,810.00p -16.36%
Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW) 318.80p -9.66%
De La Rue (DLAR) 504.50p -8.85%
SSP Group (SSPG) 290.20p -3.43%
Investec (INVP) 606.00p -2.88%
Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 606.00p -2.73%
PZ Cussons (PZC) 358.80p -2.63%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 1,904.00p -2.31%
Premier Oil (PMO) 155.30p -2.27%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 127.80p -2.22%