LONDON (ShareCast) - Keller Group leapt on reports of a contract deal with Esorfranki, a move that would mark its entry into the African market. Esorfranki, a civil engineering and construction company, has reportedly sold its geotechnical division, which operates in Africa, to Keller.

Newsagent WH Smith surged after booking a full-year profit ahead of expectations, lifting its final dividend 15% and announcing a further £50m share buyback. Pre-tax profit rose 6% to £108m for the year ended August 31st while total sales fell 5% to £1.18bn.

Meanwhile, information and events group Informa sunk after news that its Finance Director Adam Walker will move over to aerospace giant GKN to replace William Seeger. Westhouse Securities was also weighing on the stock this morning after downgrading its recommendation to 'neutral'.

Catalogue and internet shopping firm N Brown was extending losses after its first-half results yesterday. Citigroup retained its 'neutral' rating for the stock this morning, choosing to sit on the fence with the stock trading at 14 times earnings.


FTSE 250 - Risers
Keller Group (KLR) 1,041.00p +10.74%
Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 281.70p +7.48%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 623.50p +5.68%
Dixons Retail (DXNS) 46.63p +5.67%
Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 756.00p +5.44%
Restaurant Group (RTN) 546.00p +5.41%
WH Smith (SMWH) 880.00p +5.39%
Fenner (FENR) 398.70p +4.67%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 108.60p +4.62%
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 1,092.00p +4.40%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 474.40p -2.99%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,111.00p -1.86%
Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 143.10p -1.78%
Perform Group (PER) 550.50p -1.52%
Greggs (GRG) 432.30p -1.39%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,051.00p -1.04%
African Barrick Gold (ABG) 152.40p -1.04%
Informa (INF) 505.00p -0.98%
Marston's (MARS) 143.10p -0.97%
Dunelm Group (DNLM) 859.50p -0.87%

NR

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