FTSE 250 movers: Uphill struggle for Halfords

7th Oct 2010 14:10

Halfords is back-pedalling today after the car parts and bicycle retailer said like for like sales fell 5.8% during the second quarter following a 4.5% drop at the retail business and 1.5% decline at Autocentres. Shares in Victrex have melted away despite the fast growing plastics group's trading update saying it expects group profits for 2010 to be in line with market expectations. Full year sales volume in the year to end-September stacked up to about 2,535 tonnes, slightly below the 2,550 tonnes broker KBC Peel Hunt had forecast.Recruitment firm Michael Page raised profit by 37% during the third quarter and had its best month of 2010 in September as the temp business began to grow again, but the shares are lower.On the plus side, Rank is higher after strong trading across its divisions helped the casino and bingo hall operator to a 7% rise in like-for-like sales in the third quarter, leaving it confident for the full year despite challenging economic conditions.Latin America-focused precious metal miner Hochschild is shining after saying it has made a number of high-grade finds at its San Jose operation in southern Argentina which should "materially increase mine life".FTSE 250 - RisersElectra Private Equity (ELTA) 1,510.00p +5.23%Rank Group (RNK) 127.50p +4.94%Robert Wiseman (RWD) 330.50p +4.85%Bodycote (BOY) 284.70p +3.91%Elementis (ELM) 105.00p +3.86%ITV (ITV) 63.75p +3.57%Laird (LRD) 151.40p +3.56%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 492.50p +3.36%Inchcape (INCH) 337.60p +2.86%CPP Group (CPP) 258.10p +2.86%FTSE 250 - FallersHalfords Group (HFD) 419.20p -6.22%Victrex (VCT) 1,255.00p -5.14%Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 451.40p -4.14%Cookson Group (CKSN) 553.00p -3.74%Catlin Group (CGL) 329.00p -3.66%Petropavlovsk (POG) 1,098.00p -3.43%Michael Page International (MPI) 464.00p -3.01%Greggs (GRG) 451.60p -2.82%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 27.88p -2.82%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 96.55p -2.72%