LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 250 was edged 0.04% higher to 19,657.18 in afternoon trading on Friday, with G4S leading the index higher.

The security services firm surged after Sky News reported that US cash-handling business The Brink's Company could make a £1.0bn bid for its cash solutions arm.

IP Group shares climbed ahead of the release of its interim results next week, while Dunelm rose after analysts at HSBC upped their rating of the stock from 'reduce' to 'hold'.

CYBG recovered after the owner of Virgin Money and Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks fell sharply in the previous session after it warned that it had received a surge in payment protection insurance claims ahead of the August deadline.

Copper mining company Kaz Minerals also edged higher after analysts at Morgan Stanley improved their rating of the stock from 'equal weight' to 'overweight'.

On the downside, SIG slumped as it first-half pre-tax profit fell to £5.2m from £19.6m in the same period a year ago amid a marked deterioration in the level of construction activity in the UK.

Analysts at AJ Bell said: "The UK construction sector last month saw its largest decline in new work for more than a decade as property developers delayed decisions because of Brexit uncertainty. SIG is stuck in the middle of the storm and despite efforts in the past two years to bring operating costs under control it may well find life hard going in the near-term."

Finally, Metro Bank and Intu Properties dropped following the news that both companies face relegation from the FTSE 250.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,657.18 0.04%


FTSE 250 - Risers

G4S (GFS) 186.20p 6.28%
Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 251.00p 3.29%
IP Group (IPO) 62.10p 3.16%
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 849.50p 3.03%
Sanne Group (SNN) 547.00p 3.01%
CYBG (CYBG) 113.05p 2.77%
Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 156.47p 2.27%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 3,038.00p 2.15%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 424.20p 2.02%
Meggitt (MGGT) 642.60p 2.00%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

SIG (SHI) 121.40p -5.96%
Metro Bank (MTRO) 260.00p -5.11%
Intu Properties (INTU) 33.96p -4.85%
Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 584.55p -4.64%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 210.80p -3.74%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 191.89p -3.57%
Grafton Group Units (GFTU) 750.00p -3.35%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,279.49p -2.92%
Kainos Group (KNOS) 421.80p -2.59%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 348.40p -2.49%

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