FTSE 250 movers: Wizz Air flies high, Dixons dives

London's FTSE 250 index was 0.32% higher at 19,300.26 in afternoon trade on Tuesday, as Wizz Air gave the index a lift.

The low-cost airline was flying 5% higher as it put out a reassuring update, with capacity up 6.9% year-on-year in March and total passenger numbers ahead 9.9% after the company launched 15 new routes during the month and took delivery of two new Airbus A321neo and two A321ceo aircraft.

Emerging markets focused asset manager Ashmore followed close behind after Bank of America Merrill Lynch raised the stock from 'neutral' to 'buy'.

Ferrexpo continued to climb after delaying its final results on Monday in order to allow more time for an independent review of the company’s donations to a charity called Blooming Land, a Ukrainian charity set up to coordinate Ferrexpo’s corporate and social responsibility programme.

Retailers Dixons Carphone and Dunelm Group were both lower as the Brexit crisis rumbles on, leaving UK-focused stocks particularly vulnerable.

Outsourcer Capita was lower after outspoken Conservative MP Mark Francois said the "incompetent" company was threatening national security and should be "sacked" from its army recruitment contract as numbers of new recruits are falling short, with only three out of 30 front-line infantry battalions meeting or exceeding recruitment expectations.

Intu Properties was lower as Goldman Sachs analysts cut the stock's target price from 92p to 88p and reiterated their 'sell' guidance after the shopping centre manager and developer rushed to quash rumours that it has found a replacement for current chief executive David Fischel, who announced his intention to stand down last summer.

Kier Group edged lower after being initiated at 'hold' by analysts at Jefferies, while Clarkson inched downward on the news that its president of brokerage and investment banking Peter Anker will stand down with immediate effect.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,300.26 0.32%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 3,022.00p 4.93%
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 1,291.00p 4.28%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 445.20p 4.12%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 946.00p 3.39%
Amigo Holdings (AMGO) 185.89p 3.27%
Renishaw (RSW) 3,994.00p 3.04%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 271.10p 3.00%
Hunting (HTG) 612.00p 2.94%
TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) 195.40p 2.84%
UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 575.00p 2.59%