FTSE 250 movers: Booker rises after positive first half

18th Sep 2014 15:40

Shares in Booker Group performed strongly on Thursday after the group reported a 3.1% year-on-year rise in like-for-like sales. The result was welcome by Peel Hunt, which said it continues to see "significant upside" at the cash and cash firm after a decent second-quarter update. The broker kept a 'buy' recommendation and 180p target price, hailing an "encouraging" statement.Legoland and Sea Life centres owner Merlin Entertainments was another strong riser after the group said profit growth remained consistent with internal expectations and anticipates full year margins at the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation level to be "similar to last year's levels". Like-for-like revenue growth stood at 6.7% after the first 36 weeks of the year, slowing from the 8.1% growth seen in the first six months.Premier Farnell cheered with its first-half results, which it said reflected the gradual improvement in the market backdrop and lower finance costs. Adjusted first-half sales climbed 3.3% on an underling basis to £479.3m, helping to lift adjusted pre-tax profit 2.4% to £38.8m.Events and PR group UBM responded to recent market rumours that it was plotting a $900m acquisition of US rival Advanstar from its private equity and hedge fund owners.Precious metal stocks such as Polymetal, Lonmin and Centamin were all firmly in negative territory as they tracked silver, gold and platinum prices lower."Gold has taken another dive [...] after the US Fed increased its interest rate projections, spurring US dollar gains which made the safe haven more expensive," explained Mike van Dulken from Accendo Markets.FTSE 250 - RisersBooker Group (BOK) 122.60p +5.42%Ophir Energy (OPHR) 248.50p +3.37%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 117.60p +3.16%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 728.00p +3.12%Merlin Entertainments (MERL) 351.10p +3.11%Alent (ALNT) 354.90p +2.87%Diploma (DPLM) 690.00p +2.68%Soco International (SIA) 429.40p +2.60%Evraz (EVR) 134.30p +2.60%Rank Group (RNK) 163.10p +2.58%FTSE 250 - FallersPolymetal International (POLY) 475.50p -5.18%Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,048.00p -3.50%Lonmin (LMI) 203.80p -3.18%Centamin (DI) (CEY) 58.45p -2.75%Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,014.00p -2.41%Home Retail Group (HOME) 169.30p -2.20%Xaar (XAR) 381.70p -2.13%Telecity Group (TCY) 740.50p -1.92%Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 328.80p -1.56%Supergroup (SGP) 1,169.00p -1.52%