LONDON (ShareCast) - (ShareCast News) - The FTSE 250 index was 0.23% higher at 18,384.09 in the late afternoon.
Swiss iron ore miner Ferrexpo was in the green after it achieved record sales volumes in 2016, but produced fewer pellets as it focused on reducing its debt.

Safety, health and environmental technology group Halma advanced as it announced the acquisition of FluxData Incorporated from private shareholders for up to $27.5m in cash to be funded from its existing cash and debt facilities.

Russian gold miner Polymetal International gained as the price of gold rose 0.41%.

Emerging markets investment manager Ashmore was under the cosh after after Barclays reiterated its 'underweight' rating on the investment manager and cut its price target to 270p from 325p. The bank noted that despite a 19% selloff in the final quarter of last year, the company still outperformed its asset manager peers and was up 11% over the year.

Self-storage provider Safestore slipped despite it reporting a strong financial year in the UK and Paris. Revenue in the year to end-October rose 10.1% to £115.4m for the FTSE 250 storage provider, with group like-for-like revenue up 8.1% at constant exchange rates.

Metals producer Evraz fell on the back of the decline in steel and coal prices. Chinese steel rebar 25mm has fallen to $478.3 per tonne from $480.1 per tonne and coal fell to $62.3/1 from $63.3/t.

Risers

JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 327.50p 3.80%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,270.00p 3.13%
Indivior (INDV) 306.60p 2.96%
Inmarsat (ISAT) 796.00p 2.71%
Polymetal International (POLY) 910.50p 2.53%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 920.50p 2.39%
Clarkson (CKN) 2,197.00p 2.38%
Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 380.60p 2.20%
Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) 335.50p 2.19%
Halma (HLMA) 929.00p 2.14%

Fallers

Evraz (EVR) 203.40p -5.26%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 286.30p -4.34%
OneSavings Bank (OSB) 333.70p -3.13%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 352.30p -2.95%
Grafton Group Units (GFTU) 545.00p -2.85%
Keller Group (KLR) 829.50p -2.75%
Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 288.80p -2.56%
Workspace Group (WKP) 779.00p -2.38%
Derwent London (DLN) 2,697.00p -2.28%
Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 323.70p -2.06%

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