FTSE 250 movers: Aston Martin skids lower, Merlin works its magic

London's FTSE 250 was down 0.19% in afternoon trading on Thursday, after Aston Martin Lagonda drove the index lower.

The shares skidded lower after the luxury car manufacturer's first results since floating in October showed it swung to a loss of £68.2m in 2018 from a profit of £84.5m the year before due to the costs of listing.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "Underlying earnings in the first half of 2019 are set to be lower. So why does chief executive Andy Palmer describe last year as an ‘exceptional’ one for the group? Well it did post record revenue of more than £1bn with volumes ahead of guidance, but today’s negative market reaction suggests it has a lot more to do to win over the sceptics."

Prepared food provider Bakkavör followed close behind after warning that it expects it will have to wait until the second half of 2019 before UK growth picks up, after a year when strong international performance made up for a subdued home market.

Howden Joinery dropped as it reported an increase in 2018 profit but a drop in margins as the company warned of higher costs, while Inchcape fell after it saw profits fall slightly last year, as stricter emissions laws, Brexit related uncertainties and a slump in UK auto production all helped pump the brakes on sales.

Amigo Holdings was down after reporting slower profit and revenue growth for the third quarter, though the guarantor loans lender still signed up a further 10,000 new customers.

Petrofac plodded higher as it managed to erase net debt last year, with falling revenues and profitability offset by asset sales. No provision was made for potential future charges by the Serious Fraud Office against former or current staff so, according to analysts at Jefferies, risks "will remain an investment overhang until matters are indeed brought to a close."

At the other end of the scale, Inmarsat was launched higher by a report by CTFN that EchoStar, which dropped a $3.2bn takeover approach for the satellite business in July, is expected to renew its interest in the company "very soon", and no later than the next six months.

Safestore, setting a new all-time high, and Big Yellow had earlier led the risers, carried higher on Brexit optimism, traders suggested.

Legoland and Madame Tussauds owner Merlin Entertainments was also in the green as it said full-year underlying earnings rose 4.3%.

Analysts at Liberum said: "Trading at this seasonally quiet point has been in line with expectations which are 'positive and unchanged'. Consensus estimates currently factor in 2.7% like-for-like sales growth for the group which offers risk to the upside we believe. The Lego movie is likely to be an ongoing positive (despite lower box office figures) and we note that Lego toy sales figures announced for FY18 this week were encouraging."

Finally, Hastings rose after upgrading its dividend payout guidance on the back of higher annual profit and customer numbers, as Vesuvius climbed after it announced a 10.7% improvement in its underlying revenue to £1.798bn, as both its steel and foundry divisions outperformed their underlying markets.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,181.02 0.14%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Inmarsat (ISAT) 396.50p 5.14%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,476.00p 4.03%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,984.00p 3.55%
Just Eat (JE.) 744.60p 2.76%
Merlin Entertainments (MERL) 362.00p 2.67%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 613.50p 2.59%
Contour Global (GLO) 181.70p 2.54%
Big Yellow Group (BYG) 984.00p 2.50%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 425.50p 2.43%
Workspace Group (WKP) 980.50p 2.40%