FTSE 250 Movers: International Personal Finance in last place

15th Dec 2011 15:07

Doorstep lending firm International Personal Finance (IPF) was in the bottom spot of the FTSE 250 index after it revealed that global economic volatility has taken its toll on the firm's profit and loss account in 2011.The group highlights the significant unpredictability in foreign exchange (FX) markets over the year and notes a weakening of its trading currencies against sterling. As such, IPF estimates FX rates will have a 14% negative impact on reported profits. Shares in oilfield support services giant Wood Group also dropped after the firm admitted international performance for the year ended 31 December will be below expectations. The fall comes as a result of losses on two Wood Group Production Facilities contracts, which the firm was keen to emphasise have been targeted for an improved performance in 2012.Ultra Electronics, the high-tech defence firm, took the low road after UBS downgraded the stock from neural to sell, warning that the group is not immune to defence budget cuts in the US.Meanwhile, travel group Thomas Cook was the top riser on the FTSE 250, recovering after its full-year results disappointed yesterday.Carpetright was also rising one day after shareholders were given a morale boost when Lord Philip Harris of Peckham, chief executive of Carpetright, bought himself an early Christmas present in the form of £214,750-worth of shares. The firm had been hit by a challenging trading environment, which saw revenues fall from £248m to £238.4m, with underlying pre-tax profit down from £10m to £1.4m, equivalent to earnings per share of 1.2p (2010: 10.7p).FTSE 250 - RisersThomas Cook Group (TCG) 15.48p +6.61%Carpetright (CPR) 459.40p +5.03%Regus (RGU) 81.60p +4.88%New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 430.70p +4.67%Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 505.50p +4.46%Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) 254.30p +4.22%Hays (HAS) 61.25p +4.08%Afren (AFR) 79.70p +3.98%Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 1,355.00p +3.83%Kesa Electricals (KESA) 66.30p +3.59%FTSE 250 - FallersInternational Personal Finance (IPF) 164.70p -9.41%JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 566.00p -8.04%Exillon Energy (EXI) 240.90p -4.10%Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 2,665.00p -3.76%Perform Group (PER) 200.80p -3.00%Ocado Group (OCDO) 71.95p -2.84%Ultra Electronics Holdings (ULE) 1,407.00p -2.56%AG Barr (BAG) 1,185.00p -2.47%Supergroup (SGP) 526.00p -2.32%SDL (SDL) 674.00p -2.32%NR