FTSE 250 movers: Insurance companies lead the upside

17th Jan 2014 16:05

Insurance providers esure and Direct Line led today's risers on the second tier index after data showed that the decline in average premiums across the sector eased considerably at the end of 2013. As on the FTSE 100, miners extended yesterday's gains which came after Citigroup lifted its 12-month stance on the mining sector from 'neutral' to 'bullish', representing its first positive outlook for the industry in three years. Meanwhile, betting group Ladbrokes was dragged down by a poor performance from sector peer William Hill; both stocks said the second week of the year had gone badly for them in terms of football results. Halfords was retreating after yesterday's strong gains which came after it trounced third-quarter analyst forecasts with a period of rapid top-line growth, driven by mild weather and continued retail reinvigoration by Chief Executive Matt Davies. FTSE 250 - Risersesure Group (ESUR) 283.00p +5.56%Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 266.50p +4.35%African Barrick Gold (ABG) 198.80p +2.85%Big Yellow Group (BYG) 510.00p +2.82%Derwent London (DLN) 2,616.00p +2.71%Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 630.00p +2.52%Smith (DS) (SMDS) 342.20p +2.52%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 180.30p +2.38%Lonmin (LMI) 313.80p +2.28%Hansteen Holdings (HSTN) 112.60p +2.09%FTSE 250 - FallersLadbrokes (LAD) 167.70p -4.72%Rotork (ROR) 2,643.00p -4.24%Ocado Group (OCDO) 505.50p -3.44%Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 783.50p -3.21%Xaar (XAR) 1,034.00p -3.09%Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 121.20p -3.04%Halfords Group (HFD) 477.90p -2.96%Computacenter (CCC) 656.50p -2.74%Rightmove (RMV) 2,573.00p -2.69%Spectris (SXS) 2,417.00p -2.62%NR