FTSE 250 movers: Sophos bounces back, Centamin loses shine
Shares in IT security company Sophos bounced back on the FTSE 250 leaderboard on Monday after taking a 20% hammering last week on the back of a poor billings report.
The shares were up 9% at the close. Sophos reported constant currency billings between April and June rose by a mere 2%. Stobart Group took off after it was confirmed over the weekend that chairman Iain Ferguson received enough votes at Friday's annual shareholder meeting to remain in his position. Ex-director Andrew Tinkler, who had been leading a campaign to replace Ferguson, was voted back onto the board, but the board quickly decided to vote him back off.
Cairn Energy climbed as it said ongoing arbitration with the Government of India would face final arbitration hearings scheduled from 20 August in The Hague.
Inmarsat was rising despite US suitor Echostar having abandoned its efforts to acquire the satellite company just after the close on Friday.
Shares in TalkTalk were higher, with reports over the weekend that billionaire chairman Sir Charles Dunstone is facing an attempt by investors to kick him off the board.
Sirius Minerals was up on the back of a materials handling agreement and lease signed with Redcar Bulk Terminal to provide port and ship loading services for up to 10m tonnes of fertiliser a year. The company said the deal will provide greater flexibility in storage and port operations and reduced construction risk and capital expenditure requirements during its current construction programme.
Workspace Group was a little higher after exchanging contracts for the disposal of three properties in London for a total of £51.85m, a premium of 23.2% the March valuation.
Student accommodation manager and developer Unite edged up after it issued a quarterly property valuation of its UK Student Accommodation Fund and the London Student Accommodation Joint Venture, with the former independently valued up 1.2% at £2.32bn and the latter up 2.5% to £1.2bn.
Aerospace group Meggitt got a lift from Berenberg analysts hiking the stock to ‘buy’.
On the downside, Egyptian gold miner Centamin reported production for the second quarter of 92,803 ounces, a 25% reduction year-on-year.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals was down despite signing a licensing and distribution agreement to distribute Perrigo's over-the-counter consumer healthcare products in the Middle East and North Africa.
Market Movers
FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,821.16 0.98%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Sophos Group (SOPH) 501.00p 9.01%
Premier Oil (PMO) 129.11p 8.77%
Inmarsat (ISAT) 518.40p 7.15%
Superdry (SDRY) 1,341.00p 6.85%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 120.20p 6.84%
Energean Oil & Gas (ENOG) 551.00p 5.35%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 850.60p 4.96%
Capita (CPI) 162.50p 4.64%
Hunting (HTG) 766.50p 4.57%
Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 277.50p 4.52%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 114.00p -3.18%
Pennon Group (PNN) 790.00p -2.76%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,431.50p -2.55%
Contour Global (GLO) 242.00p -2.42%
Softcat (SCT) 711.00p -1.80%
Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 1,240.00p -1.74%
esure Group (ESUR) 205.00p -1.63%
Bakkavor Group (BAKK) 190.00p -1.55%
Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 285.60p -1.42%
Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 5,680.00p -1.39%