FTSE 250 movers: Weir boosted by results; Workspace loses ground

London’s FTSE 250 was up 1.1% at 20,716.86 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.

Weir Group was sitting pretty at the top of the index after it said both full-year revenue and operating profits had ticked up thanks to a double-digit increase in orders.

Daily Mirror publisher Reach was also in the black, having tumbled a day earlier after it warned that higher newsprint inflation would mean that 2022 profit would decline.

Ascential, the owner of Cannes Lions, rallied after it reported a rise in full-year earnings and revenue following growth in all four of its segments, while housebuilder Vistry was up after well-received annual results.

Hiscox gained after the insurer said it swung to a full-year profit, with gross written premiums boosted by continued positive rate momentum in all three divisions and strong customer growth in the retail segment.

On the downside, gold miner Petropavlovsk - which has operations in Russia - was the worst performer on the index.

Office space provider Workspace was weaker after agreeing to buy commercial property investment company McKay Securities for £272m.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Weir Group (WEIR) 1,654.50p 8.81%
Reach (RCH) 181.80p 7.57%
Ascential (ASCL) 336.80p 7.19%
Vistry Group (VTY) 1,011.50p 6.97%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 180.50p 6.84%
Man Group (EMG) 205.30p 6.51%
Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 194.40p 6.00%
Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 173.40p 5.99%
Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 947.00p 5.72%
IMI (IMI) 1,473.00p 4.84%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Petropavlovsk (POG) 2.97p -40.20%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,118.00p -5.09%
Workspace Group (WKP) 737.50p -4.10%
Network International Holdings (NETW) 210.30p -3.62%
Currys (CURY) 88.50p -3.44%
Templeton Emerging Markets Inv Trust (TEM) 152.00p -3.43%
Cineworld Group (CINE) 35.85p -3.11%
Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 139.50p -2.79%
PureTech Health (PRTC) 213.00p -2.74%
Playtech (PTEC) 644.50p -2.57%