LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 250 was up by 0.33% at 20,299.19 in afternoon trade on Friday, with FirstGroup leading the index higher.






The transport operator was on the rise after the Competition & Markets Authority said there were reasonable grounds to believe the undertakings it had offered in relation to the award of the West Coast partnership rail franchise might be accepted.

Private healthcare group Mediclinic rose for a second successive session after it reported a rise in first-half earnings amid revenue growth in all three divisions.

888 Holdings climbed after defending the reappointment of Brian Mattingley as non-executive chairman after 21% of its shareholders voted against his re-election back in May, while Diploma was in the green ahead of the release of its final results on Monday.

Down at the other end of the index, Qinetiq dropped back, having racked up gains during the previous session when it reported an increase in first-half profit and revenue as orders grew.

Finally, Talktalk fell after delaying the sale of its ultrafast broadband network to CityFibre Holdings until after December's general election, though the company also backed its full year guidance.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,299.19 0.33%


FTSE 250 - Risers

FirstGroup (FGP) 111.10p 5.41%
Mediclinic International (MDC) 395.00p 4.77%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 217.50p 4.57%
888 Holdings (888) 164.20p 2.82%
Sirius Minerals (SXX) 3.33p 2.40%
FDM Group (Holdings) (FDM) 804.00p 2.29%
Vesuvius (VSVS) 417.20p 2.25%
Diploma (DPLM) 1,692.00p 2.17%
Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 573.00p 2.14%
Inchcape (INCH) 650.50p 2.12%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

PureTech Health (PRTC) 220.00p -9.09%
QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 338.80p -3.64%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 105.20p -3.13%
Virgin Money UK (VMUK) 137.45p -2.90%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 143.00p -2.89%
Restaurant Group (RTN) 139.60p -2.79%
Hastings Group Holdings (HSTG) 171.00p -2.45%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,718.00p -2.23%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,324.00p -2.07%
Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 285.50p -2.06%

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