FTSE 250 movers: Investors toast strong finish from JD Wetherspoon

24th Jul 2013 14:30

JD Wetherspoon impressed the market on Wednesday with shares surging after the pubs group said that trading in the fourth quarter was better than expected. The company said that it is now on track to achieve a 'slightly better outcome (before any exceptional items) for the current financial year [ending July 23rd] than previously anticipated'.Numis upgraded the stock to 'add' today, while Investec and HSBC maintained their ratings but raised their target prices.Transport firm National Express was also flying high after beating estimates across the board with its first-half results, helped by a record performance in non-rail profit. Group sales, profits and the dividend all came in ahead of consensus forecasts.Heading the other way was telecoms and internet provider TalkTalk despite reporting a 1.7% increase in first-quarter revenue to £421m, driven by an increase in broadband, TV, mobile and fibre clients.Renishaw, the manufacturer of measurement, motion control, spectroscopy equipment and precision machining, was out of favour after reporting lower-than-expected profits for the fourth quarter of its fiscal year.FTSE 250 - RisersWetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 722.50p +8.16%Bumi (BUMI) 228.70p +5.64%National Express Group (NEX) 256.90p +4.64%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 171.60p +4.63%Premier Farnell (PFL) 230.40p +4.02%Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 429.70p +3.54%Marston's (MARS) 164.50p +3.46%Playtech (PTEC) 711.50p +3.12%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 131.40p +3.06%Morgan Advance Materials (MGAM) 304.10p +3.05%FTSE 250 - FallersIG Group Holdings (IGG) 564.50p -3.01%TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 245.20p -2.70%Alent (ALNT) 362.90p -2.52%Carpetright (CPR) 660.00p -2.51%Polymetal International (POLY) 625.00p -2.42%Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 572.00p -2.39%Renishaw (RSW) 1,532.00p -2.23%Beazley (BEZ) 220.70p -2.22%African Barrick Gold (ABG) 114.30p -2.14%PZ Cussons (PZC) 390.00p -1.64%BC