FTSE 250 movers: Vesuvius plummets on downgrade, energy stocks higher

Shares in metal flow engineering group Vesuvius dropped sharply after analysts at JPMorgan lowered their stance on the stock from 'overweight' to 'neutral', citing weak steel production in the US. The price target was lowered to 510p from 531p previously.

JD Sports was trading higher after sprinting past its 2016 forecasts a year early and topping £100m of operating profits for the first time since it disposed of its loss-making young-fashion division in November.

Energy stocks Cairn Energy and Ophir Energy were boosted as the US oil rig count dipped, driving West Texas prices up to $54.5.

Amec Foster Wheeler surged after being awarded more than £73m by BP to fund maintenance and project support for the Forties pipeline system in the North Sea.

Tullow Oil was also buoyed by higher oil prices and received an upgrade from 'neutral' to 'buy' from analysts at Goldman Sachs, with the bank calling the firm a “source of opportunity”.

Risers

Tullow Oil (TLW) 393.80p +6.84%
Premier Oil (PMO) 176.20p +6.47%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 538.50p +5.69%
Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 961.50p +4.51%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 166.70p +3.54%
Telecom Plus (TEP) 978.50p +3.54%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 177.70p +3.31%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 237.40p +3.31%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 491.00p +3.06%
Aveva Group (AVV) 1,632.00p +2.77%

Fallers
Vesuvius (VSVS) 468.80p -6.33%
Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 400.00p -5.21%
Soco International (SIA) 188.90p -4.31%
Indivior (INDV) 215.20p -4.14%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 281.60p -3.69%
Senior (SNR) 348.70p -2.73%
Alent (ALNT) 382.70p -2.25%
Betfair Group (BET) 2,214.00p -2.25%
Supergroup (SGP) 977.50p -2.25%
Diploma (DPLM) 821.50p -2.20%