FTSE 250 movers: Micro Focus jumps on M&A news

UK software group Micro Focus International is to merge with The Attachmate Group in a $2.4bn deal which "presents a rare opportunity to achieve a significant increase in the scale and breadth" of the business. The company also assured investors that its previously announced 60p-a-share (£84m) cash return will go ahead and is not conditional on the merger.

Also higher was Dixons Carphone, which according to Investec could benefit from the collapse of UK high street chain Phones 4U. The broker repeated its 'buy' recommendation for the electrical goods and mobile-phone retailer.

Galliford Try rose on the news it has won a contract with Greater London Authority (GLA) to construct the Silvertown Way development in Canning Town, east London.

Meanwhile, Ocado shares were knocked lower after the Sunday Telegraph's Questor column recommended shareholders dispose of their stock, saying that its concept of creating a dominant online supermarket is attractive but it doesn't seem to be working. There is way too much risk and investors should sell, Questor said.

Aveva shares continued to decline after Investec cut its rating from 'buy' to 'hold' and its target price from 2,800p to 1,600p. Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse both also lowered their target prices to 1,900p and 1,700p, respectively.

FTSE 250 - Risers
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 967.00p +14.78%
Phoenix Group Holdings (DI) (PHNX) 733.00p +2.95%
Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,388.00p +2.81%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 165.90p +2.72%
Soco International (SIA) 422.00p +2.68%
Evraz (EVR) 120.60p +2.29%
Cranswick (CWK) 1,330.00p +2.15%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 379.80p +2.04%
Just Retirement Group (JRG) 141.40p +1.73%
African Barrick Gold (ABG) 229.80p +1.59%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Ocado Group (OCDO) 289.50p -5.58%
NMC Health (NMC) 460.50p -3.86%
Aveva Group (AVV) 1,560.00p -3.70%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 130.30p -3.48%
Ladbrokes (LAD) 125.60p -3.24%
Serco Group (SRP) 306.40p -2.98%
PayPoint (PAY) 1,024.00p -2.38%
Supergroup (SGP) 1,201.00p -2.36%
Hays (HAS) 125.40p -2.34%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 97.00p -2.32%