FTSE 250 movers: Meggitt and Interserve soar through the session

Interserve advanced as the support services and construction group was awarded a two-year extension of its contract to provide security services to the BBC worth more than £20m.

The company has been providing the BBC with security services since 2014, when it was awarded the company’s National Security Contract on a three-year deal.

It handles all manned guarding, close protection and control room operations at a variety of sites, including Broadcasting House in London, Pacific Quay in Glasgow and the Media City UK complex in Salford. The account extension will start in early 2017.

Tom Ward, director of operations for security at Interserve, said: "We have a strong working relationship and have built up a track record of delivering outstanding service across a large and diverse portfolio. We look forward to continuing our work with the Corporation for a further two years."

Meggitt was also soaring as it emerged that activist investor Elliott Capital Advisors has taken a stake in the FTSE 250 defence and aerospace engineer.

According to a regulatory filing, Elliott Capital has taken a 5.2% stake in Meggitt through contracts for difference.

Last week, Meggitt reported a drop in first-half pre-tax profit but lifted its interim dividend and confirmed its guidance for 2016.

For the six months to the end of June, statutory pre-tax profit fell 60% to £46.6m as revenue slipped 2% to £882.9m. The company said the statutory results were hit by £50.8m negative mark to market of its financial instruments, mostly as a result of the recent weakness in sterling following the Brexit vote.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Meggitt (MGGT) 446.70p 7.74%
Shawbrook Group (SHAW) 200.40p 5.47%
CYBG (CYBG) 263.10p 4.36%
Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 283.90p 4.26%
Aldermore Group (ALD) 145.10p 4.16%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 281.20p 4.07%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 379.50p 3.94%
Serco Group (SRP) 132.80p 3.59%
Clarkson (CKN) 1,964.00p 3.42%
Laird (LRD) 332.00p 3.20%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Hastings Group Holdings (HSTG) 197.10p -5.69%
McCarthy & Stone (MCS) 170.20p -5.34%
Vectura Group (VEC) 146.70p -2.72%
Restaurant Group (RTN) 359.90p -2.55%
Polypipe Group (PLP) 253.20p -2.43%
Homeserve (HSV) 569.00p -2.15%
Fidelity European Values (FEV) 174.90p -1.58%
Big Yellow Group (BYG) 732.00p -1.55%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,538.00p -1.44%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 363.70p -1.36%