LONDON (ShareCast) - African Barrick Gold shares jumped after the miner said it would beat its annual production target and continue with its cost-saving programme as it posted a 25 per cent drop in third-quarter net profit.

The group said net profit fell to $17.8m for the three months ended September 30th compared to $23.8m a year earlier as revenue dropped 17% to $221.1m. The stock was also lifted by the rising gold price, having tracked it lower the previous day.

Transport group Stagecoach continued to rise one day after it revealed like-for-like trading had worsened in UK rail but improved in the US Megabus unit in the first 24 weeks of the year. The group said trading remained “satisfactory” and that there was “no significant change” to expected annual earnings.

Kenmare Resources shares took the biggest hit today, dragged lower by a report in the Daily Telegraph's Questor column, which said the stock has a "burning debt issue" and needs to generate higher levels of cash to pay down debt.

NMC Health was subject to profit taking one day after it rose strongly on the back of a good performance in its third quarter as more patients filled its beds and it saw increased demand for its specialist clinical services. The United Arab Emirates private sector healthcare operator reported revenues rose 10.6% to $136.5m in the third quarter and said trading since the end of September had continued in line with expectations.


FTSE 250 - Risers
African Barrick Gold (ABG) 186.20p +9.46%
Menzies(John) (MNZS) 811.50p +2.59%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 141.80p +2.46%
Howden Joinery Group (HWDN) 325.30p +2.42%
Debenhams (DEB) 101.40p +2.42%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 440.50p +2.32%
Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 337.80p +2.30%
Stagecoach Group (SGC) 351.00p +2.27%
Laird (LRD) 253.00p +2.22%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 400.10p +2.20%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 20.10p -4.74%
NMC Health (NMC) 355.00p -3.27%
Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 1,693.00p -2.59%
Countrywide (CWD) 558.00p -2.11%
Alent (ALNT) 339.90p -2.05%
Genus (GNS) 1,295.00p -1.89%
COLT Group SA (COLT) 123.80p -1.75%
IP Group (IPO) 151.30p -1.75%
RPC Group (RPC) 506.00p -1.65%
Xaar (XAR) 804.50p -1.65%

NR

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