FTSE 250 movers: Supergroup jumps after sales beat expectations

4th Sep 2014 16:41

A decline in like-for-like (LFL) sales at fashion retailer Supergroup was not as bad as feared in the first quarter, helping the stock to jump on Thursday. The company also reassured the market by highlighting improving trends over the first few weeks of the second quarter.A 44.5% leap in profit helped to drive shares in Go-Ahead Group higher, as the transport company cheered with its full-year results. Profit before tax rose from £63.1m to £91.2m year-on-year, helped by a 5.1% increase in revenue to £2,702.4m (2013: £2,571.8m). Basic earnings per share climbed from 107.8p to 164.0p. International service company Serco Group climbed after revealing that it has been chosen by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection as the preferred bidder to continue providing detainee facilities in Australia. A strong World Cup performance helped lift first quarter revenues 30% at online bookmaker and betting exchange Betfair compared to the same period last year, making it a record three-month period for the group. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 39% to £34.5m.Polymetal International rose in the news it has completed its acquisition of Altynalmas Gold, the holding company for the Kyzyl gold project in Kazakhstan, from Sumeru Gold. The gold, silver and copper miner paid $318.5m in cash and $300m-worth of shares in Polymetal issued to Sumeru, equal to a 7.45% stake in the group enlarged share capital. Meanwhile, Essentra was retreating from Wednesday's gains following an initial 'buy' rating from Jefferies. Steve Corbett, the chief executive of Alent has stepped down, sending shares in the speciality chemicals and engineered materials group into the red. He will be replaced by Rick Ertmann, the president of the assembly materials division, as interim chief while a replacement CEO is found. FTSE 250 - RisersSupergroup (SGP) 1,159.00p +10.80%TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 314.50p +4.49%Evraz (EVR) 119.90p +4.26%DCC (DCC) 3,690.00p +3.65%Serco Group (SRP) 321.80p +2.88%Dixons Carphone (DC.) 374.40p +2.86%Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,335.00p +2.73%ITE Group (ITE) 208.00p +2.46%Betfair Group (BET) 1,118.00p +2.10%Polymetal International (POLY) 534.50p +2.00%FTSE 250 - FallersHochschild Mining (HOC) 165.00p -4.62%Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,406.00p -2.70%Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MLC) 587.50p -2.41%Essentra (ESNT) 850.00p -2.24%AO World (AO.) 220.00p -2.22%Just Eat (JE.) 292.30p -1.91%BTG (BTG) 646.00p -1.90%Ladbrokes (LAD) 135.20p -1.89%Circassia Pharmaceuticals (CIR) 302.80p -1.82%Alent (ALNT) 344.70p -1.79%NR