FTSE 250 movers: Wetherspoon tumbles; Energean gains
By Frank Prenesti
Date: Friday 21 Mar 2025
(Sharecast News) - FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,956.73 -0.70%
Pub owner JD Wetherspoon tumbled as it reinstated its interim dividend after a solid increase in first-half underlying sales, but warned of the impact of rising labour costs on the business, which will hit each of its pubs by £1,500 per week.
Chair Tim Martin said that increases in national insurance contributions and minimum wages, announced in the last Budget, would increase company costs by £60m a year.
Ferrexpo slid as it said that Ukrainian tax authorities have suspended VAT refunds totalling UAH 512.9m ($12.5m) for January to its subsidiaries FPM and FYM, citing personal sanctions on major shareholder Kostiantyn Zhevago.
The FTSE 250 company said the sanctions were not directed at Ferrexpo or its subsidiaries and criticised the move as unjustified financial pressure.
It said the suspension would strain its liquidity, forcing cuts to production and sales, with broader negative impacts on local procurement, tax contributions, and Ukraine's economy.
Gas producer Energean gained after saying it has pulled its $945m deal to sell some of its assets to private equity fund Carlyle due to pending regulatory approvals in Italy and Egypt.
Wizz Air fell as Heathrow airport was shut due to a fire at a local electricity substation causing a major power outage.
Market Movers
FTSE 250 - Risers
Energean (ENOG) 876.00p 4.10%
Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) 112.80p 2.92%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 167.00p 2.58%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 205.20p 1.84%
Discoverie Group (DSCV) 594.00p 1.37%
Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 620.00p 1.31%
Empiric Student Property (ESP) 83.00p 1.22%
QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 378.00p 0.91%
Drax Group (DRX) 586.00p 0.86%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 242.20p 0.83%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 551.00p -7.71%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 65.80p -7.45%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 41.48p -6.11%
Raspberry PI Holdings (RPI) 527.75p -5.59%
FirstGroup (FGP) 172.60p -5.16%
Essentra (ESNT) 105.80p -3.99%
Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 90.00p -3.54%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 854.80p -3.48%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 265.00p -3.14%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,645.00p -3.12%
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