FTSE 250 movers: Dunelm rallies on interims, housebuilders fall
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0.8% at 20,942.11 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Lancashire Holdings fell despite the insurer saying that full-year pre-tax profit fell to $5.9m from £$119.5m the year before, beating analysts’ expectations for a loss of $31.4m, as its investment portfolio recovered.
Redrow was in the red even as the housebuilder reinstated dividends and posted an 11% rise in first-half profit, as customers rushed to buy homes before the end of government incentives next month.
Rival Bellway was also trading lower, along with Vistry.
On the upside, Dunelm rallied as the homewares retailer resumed dividend payments and posted a rise in first-half profits driven by higher online sales as tougher Covid-19 lockdown restrictions closed its stores.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 1,355.00p 7.45%
Petropavlovsk (POG) 28.70p 4.36%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 322.60p 4.27%
Drax Group (DRX) 402.20p 3.55%
Biffa (BIFF) 244.00p 3.39%
Elementis (ELM) 122.40p 3.20%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 772.50p 2.93%
Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 160.40p 2.69%
Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) 482.50p 2.55%
Greencore Group (GNC) 130.20p 2.44%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 700.50p -5.97%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 492.90p -5.94%
Bellway (BWY) 2,971.00p -4.78%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 316.40p -4.76%
Vistry Group (VTY) 883.00p -4.49%
Redrow (RDW) 549.50p -3.85%
Countryside Properties (CSP) 455.40p -3.72%
easyJet (EZJ) 763.40p -3.12%
Frasers Group (FRAS) 451.60p -2.97%
GCP Student Living (DIGS) 146.20p -2.79%