LONDON (ShareCast) - South African platinum miner Lonmin led the upside as it extended Tuesday's gains, which came after it issued a statement saying there was no foundation to media speculation about plans to restructure the business. It also said its ramp-up following the strike action was progressing ahead of its expectations.

Precious metals producer Polymetal turned into the blue during the first six months of the year, reporting net profits of $100m versus a loss of $255m in the same period of the previous year. Revenues increased 1% to $727m despite falls of 10% and 21% in the price of gold and silver, respectively, versus last year.

Contract wins and strong trading in offshore oil drove better-than-expected half-year results at specialist engineering services group James Fisher. The group managed to beat forecasts despite currency headwinds reducing profit by around £1.5m, posting a 12% increase in pre-tax profit to £20.8m, up £2.2m from a year earlier. Revenue rose 8% from £200.7m to £216.1m.

Foxtons led the downside, after it warned that the spectre of higher interest rates and a clampdown on irresponsible mortgage lending is set to hit the estate agents' second-half trading.

Balfour Beatty failed to cheers its investors despite announcing a significant increase in the estimated value of its public-private partnership (PPP) portfolio. Balfour, which is now facing the immediate future as an independent company after rival Carillion ended its takeover pursuit earlier this month, said its directors had increased their overall valuation of the portfolio by 46% to £1.05bn, compared to the valuation based on previous methodology.

FTSE 250 - Risers
Lonmin (LMI) 232.70p +4.96%
RPS Group (RPS) 293.10p +4.57%
AO World (AO.) 235.30p +4.12%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 403.10p +4.11%
Polymetal International (POLY) 542.00p +3.63%
AL Noor Hospitals Group (ANH) 1,151.00p +3.60%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 63.35p +3.18%
Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW) 292.90p +3.13%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,395.00p +2.95%
PayPoint (PAY) 1,114.00p +2.58%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Foxtons Group (FOXT) 272.70p -7.34%
Countrywide (CWD) 528.00p -2.58%
Hays (HAS) 130.00p -2.48%
Rotork (ROR) 2,759.00p -1.43%
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MLC) 588.00p -1.43%
Pennon Group (PNN) 810.00p -1.40%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 243.70p -1.34%
Homeserve (HSV) 320.10p -1.26%
BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 484.40p -1.14%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,750.00p -1.13%


NR

Email this article to a friend

or share it with one of these popular networks:

• DIGG
• FACEBOOK
• STUMBLEUPON
• MIXX
• YAHOO BUZZ
• DELICIOUS
• REDDIT
• NEWSVINE