FTSE 250 movers: Homeserve builds gains

24th Nov 2009 13:13

Mid-cap stocks have been sent in both by directions by company updates.Home maintenance specialist Homeserve is on track for a year of "strong growth" as its core business did well at the half way stage and good levels of new policy sales and high levels of renewals continued into the second half.Growth has also been important for SSL, the maker of Durex condoms and Scholl footcare products, which is higher after posting a rise in profits. It was helped by good growth in emerging markets such as China.Also higher is Intermediate Capital, an investor in and manager of buyout debt, which saw profits plunge 80% in the six months to 30 September, but is more upbeat about prospects.Lloyds List publisher Informa is the heaviest faller after it confirmed reports it is in discussions over the possible acquisition of German publisher Springer.Shares in Aquarius Platinum, which mines for the precious metal in South Africa, are sharply lower after it said it will issue $250m worth of bonds to pay back debt and construct a processing plant at one of its mines.FTSE 250 - RisersHomeserve (HSV) 1,645.00p +8.22%SSL International (SSL) 708.00p +5.36%Shaftesbury (SHB) 403.80p +2.64%UK Commercial Property Trust (UKCM) 74.20p +2.63%Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 279.00p +2.39%Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 154.50p +2.39%Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 464.80p +2.15%QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 178.50p +2.00%Hiscox (HSX) 320.90p +1.94%GKN (GKN) 112.10p +1.91%FTSE 250 - FallersInforma (INF) 284.20p -8.91%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 211.40p -6.13%Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP) 342.00p -5.99%Melrose Resources (MRS) 325.00p -4.41%Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 385.00p -4.32%Inchcape (INCH) 30.38p -3.31%Punch Taverns (PUB) 78.20p -3.16%Chaucer Holdings (CHU) 45.75p -3.15%TR Property Inv Trust Sigma Shares (TRYS) 70.70p -2.95%Ashtead Group (AHT) 73.55p -2.84%