FTSE 250 movers: JD Sports, Ashmore rally on results
London's FTSE 250 was up 0.3% to 19,836.70 in afternoon trade on Tuesday, as investors digested the latest round of UK jobs data.
JD Sports was the standout gainer after it posted a 24% jump in full-year profit as sales grew and the company's international expansion paid off.
In the 53 weeks to 3 February 2018, pre-tax profit rose to £294.5m from £238.4m the year before, on revenue of £3.2bn, up 33%. Excluding exceptional items, pre-tax profit was up 26% to a record £307.4m and the company lifted its dividend to 1.63p a share from 1.55p.
The group saw like-for-like stores sales growth of 3%, while LFL website sales growth was in excess of 30%.
Specialist emerging markets asset manager Ashmore racked up strong gains after reporting a 10% rise in third-quarter assets under management as net inflows were at their best level since June 2013.
Melrose Industries was in the black as its takeover of GKN will be declared wholly unconditional later this week after the turnaround specialists received acceptances over more than 81% of the engineer's shares.
Risers
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 372.20p 5.47%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 415.60p 4.95%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 528.00p 3.53%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 231.00p 3.31%
Sophos Group (SOPH) 489.00p 3.03%
Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,278.00p 2.69%
Polymetal International (POLY) 626.80p 2.55%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,903.00p 2.37%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,636.00p 2.25%
Alfa Financial Software Holdings (ALFA) 359.98p 1.98%
Fallers
Sanne Group (SNN) 594.00p -3.26%
Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 2,338.00p -3.07%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 796.50p -2.75%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 213.00p -2.74%
Serco Group (SRP) 93.15p -2.72%
Ultra Electronics Holdings (ULE) 1,369.00p -2.70%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,756.00p -2.34%
Clarkson (CKN) 3,040.00p -1.94%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 567.50p -1.90%
RPC Group (RPC) 799.60p -1.89%