FTSE 250 movers: Commodities downturn clobbers midcaps

The FTSE 250 bounced around on Monday with the market in the red by mid-afternoon, down 16.77 points (0.10%) to 16,860.52.

The commodities downturn hit a number of FTSE 250 companies on Monday, with Evraz down over 15% by mid-afternoon. Three-month metal contracts were down, with primary aluminium down 1.3%, copper down 0.6%, lead down 0.8%, nickel down 0.5%, tin down 0.3% and zinc down 1.1%.

On top of that, WTI crude dipped below $35 per barrel while Brent crude was below $37 earlier in the day. That sent miners Acacia Mining, Kaz Minerals and Vedanta Resources down, as well as oil and gas exploration companies Ophir Energy, Tullow Oil and Cairn Energy.

And investors weren’t showing confidence in Entertainment One’s controversial refinancing deal which was completed. The company issued £285m of 6.875% senior secured notes due in 2022, and entered into a new £100m revolving credit facility which matures in 2020. It said the net proceeds have primarily been used to repay the Company's previous credit facilities, and pay fees and expenses related to the refinancing.

After pressure on the shares last week, it was forced to justify the arrangement, explaining to shareholders that the combination of this new non-amortising, fixed rate debt financing and revolving credit facility provides the company with a long-term capital structure appropriate for its strategic ambitions.

Meanwhile Investec rebounded after last week’s losses due to political issues in South Africa. President unexpectedly sacking finance minister Nhlanhla Nene on Wednesday night - a decision that weighed on the rand and financial assets from the country. Nene was replaced by David van Rooyen, whom some reports described a little-known backbencher with no previous experience in finance. He has since been replaced with Pravin Gordhan, the country's third finance minister in a week and a man who held the post between 2009 and 2014. The stock clawed back quite a bit of ground on Monday, but still had a long way to go to get back to the levels it was at a week ago.

The market was impressed with news that Man Group confirmed it was in the process of appointing former trade minister Lord Livingston of Parkhead as its new chairman. The fund manager said the potential appointment is currently subject to a Financial Conduct Authority review and an announcement will be made when the process is complete. The statement followed a report by Sky News on Sunday, which cited an unnamed source.

Investors were also buoyed by RPC Group’s plans to acquire Global Closure Systems Group (GCS Group) in a deal valued at €650m (£470m). The company said GCS Group is a leading global manufacturer and provider of closures and dispensing systems for consumer products in more than 100 countries worldwide, with revenues of €590.5m for the year to 31 December 2014.

RPC Group said the acquisition will help the company broaden its product capabilities in European rigid plastic packaging and extend its reach in several niche end-markets. To fund it, the company proposes to raise approximately £232.6m through a one for five rights issue.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Investec (INVP) 453.80p 8.31%
Polymetal International (POLY) 539.00p 4.86%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 437.00p 3.55%
Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,656.00p 3.15%
Enterprise Inns (ETI) 106.10p 3.01%
Man Group (EMG) 157.90p 2.93%
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 944.50p 2.77%
RPC Group (RPC) 785.00p 2.75%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 780.00p 2.70%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 379.20p 2.49%