LONDON (ShareCast) - African Barrick Gold was tracking the gold price lower today, with investors spooked after the commodity saw its value drop 10 dollars in the space of 10 seconds this morning following reports of alleged rigging of the gold price. Centamin was also lower.

Bodycote extended yesterday's losses which came on the back of muted economic growth for the company in both Europe and North America, although it also reported that its organic performance is improving and it is confident of meeting full-year expectations.

Meanwhile, utilities reseller Telecom Plus soared after announcing it has agreed to pay £218m to buy back two gas and electricity supply businesses from Npower which it sold in 2006. The company, which operates via the Utility Warehouse brand and uses its own customers as distributors, will fund the deal via a £130m share placing and open offer at a discounted price of 1,475p, together with £100m of new debt.

Engineering and construction firm Kentz was also higher after being awarded a £190m contract with Qatar Petroleum for services on 775 wells across the Dukhan Oilfield in Qatar. The contract extends the firms' long-standing relationship which started back in 1997.


FTSE 250 - Risers
Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,761.00p +16.85%
Diploma (DPLM) 705.00p +6.17%
esure Group (ESUR) 239.10p +3.60%
Keller Group (KLR) 1,084.00p +3.44%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 593.50p +3.04%
Telecity Group (TCY) 692.00p +2.98%
Kentz Corporation Ltd. (KENZ) 557.50p +2.86%
Alent (ALNT) 327.90p +2.47%
Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,327.00p +2.31%
Computacenter (CCC) 601.00p +1.61%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
African Barrick Gold (ABG) 179.40p -6.42%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 47.05p -5.71%
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 20.10p -4.51%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 264.60p -4.13%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 376.10p -3.07%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 102.50p -3.03%
Bodycote (BOY) 600.00p -2.99%
ITE Group (ITE) 303.40p -2.91%
Aveva Group (AVV) 2,291.00p -2.84%
Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 554.00p -2.81%

NR

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