FTSE 250 movers: Hays, Hochschild, Greggs boosted by broker notes

28th Aug 2026 13:15

(Sharecast News) - Hays was leading the risers on the second-tier index on Friday as the stock nears a one-and-a-half-year high, helped by upbeat comments from Panmure Liberum.

The broker upgraded its stance on the recruiter to 'buy' from 'hold' and hiked the price target to 100p from 35p, after the shares have more than doubled from 20-year lows in the spring.

Shares, up 4.4% at 76.45p as of Friday afternoon, were on track for their highest close since March 2025.

Panmure said that for the first time in a long time, it sees "an asymmetric risk profile to the upside on forecasts", although it's "likely to be a bumpy ride".

Sector peer Michael Page also benefited from the boost to sentiment.

Also helped by broker comments was FTSE 250 miner Hochschild after analysts at Berenberg lifted their target price on the stock from 570p to 800p, citing a materially stronger long‑term growth profile and a supportive precious‑metals backdrop.

Jefferies lifted target price on bakery chain Greggs from 1,610p to 1,740p, helping the stock higher. The broker said it had been "surprised by the extent of the rally" in its share price since its "admittedly very robust" interim results.

In other news, advanced ceramics and carbon systems group Morgan Advanced Materials was in demand after disposing of its full shareholding in Foseco India, made up of 1.2m shares and representing approximately 15% of the business' issued share capital.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Hays (HAS) 76.45p 4.38%

AEP Plantations (AEP) 199.20p 2.72%

Ithaca Energy (ITH) 278.80p 2.69%

Michael Page (PAGE) 222.60p 2.58%

Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,276.00p 2.43%

HGCapital Trust (HGT) 445.50p 2.41%

Patria Private Equity Trust (PPET) 608.00p 2.01%

Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) 410.80p 1.93%

BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 1,068.00p 1.91%

GB Group (GBG) 161.20p 1.89%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

B&M European Value Retail (BME) 238.60p -2.21%

Trainline (TRN) 198.10p -2.07%

Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) 177.60p -2.04%

Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 213.20p -1.84%

XP Power Ltd. (DI) (XPP) 1,834.00p -1.72%

Big Yellow Group (BYG) 875.00p -1.35%

Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 520.00p -1.33%

WPP (WPP) 379.20p -1.33%

Seraphim Space Investment Trust (SSIT) 187.00p -1.28%

Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 170.60p -1.27%