FTSE 250 movers: Dixons, Kesa surge on Comet rumours

16th May 2011 15:59

Electrical products retailers Dixons Retail and Kesa Electricals have jumped higher after press speculations that the latter is contemplating where to offload its Comet chain.London Stock Exchange is wanted after saying it remains committed to its proposed merger with its Canadian counterpart TMX despite learning that TMX has received an approach from Maple, a consortium of Canadian financial institutions and pension funds.Also rising higher is Dignity, the UK's only listed funeral care provider, after UBS said that its first quarter was better-than-expected, raising the target price from 735p to 750p.Pork sausages maker Cranswick is in demand after it enjoyed a record year of sales and profitability, despite sales growth petering out in the first quarter of 2011.Meanwhile, exhibitions organiser ITE is the worst performer despite saying it is now operating in a 'business as usual' environment in its main market Moscow after recovering from the global economic downturn. Peel Hunt raised its target price for the stock but kept its 'hold', saying that profit growth will be limited in 2012 as a result of increased venue costs. Flying lower is tour operator Thomas Cook on the back of a negative comment from Japanese broker Nomura. The broker has downgraded its forecasts for the group as continued tension in the Middle East and North Africa region and tough trading in the UK is expected to affect earnings for the full year.---BCFTSE 250 - RisersDixons Retail (DXNS) 18.01p +11.38%London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 888.00p +7.31%Kesa Electricals (KESA) 149.90p +6.31%Dignity (DTY) 765.50p +2.68%Cranswick (CWK) 785.50p +2.48%Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) (GEMD) 275.70p +2.30%BTG (BGC) 256.90p +1.98%Pace (PIC) 95.80p +1.91%Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 493.10p +1.67%Mothercare (MTC) 432.70p +1.60%FTSE 250 - FallersITE Group (ITE) 236.80p -4.63%CPP Group (CPP) 118.00p -4.07%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 439.60p -3.77%Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 285.70p -3.54%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 88.60p -3.28%Punch Taverns (PUB) 75.00p -3.23%Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 170.10p -3.13%Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CW.) 51.45p -3.02%Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 158.60p -3.00%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 522.50p -2.97%