4th Mar 2026 18:41
(Alliance News) - IG Group Holdings PLC and Lion Finance Group PLC have been promoted to the FTSE 100 in its latest quarterly shuffle, with easyJet PLC and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC relegated from the benchmark index.
London-based provider of online trading platforms IG has seen its shares rise 41% over the past year. In December, IG increased its buyback programme, which started in September, to GBP200 million from GBP125 million before. IG expects the programme to be completed by the end of March.
Further share buybacks will be considered at the time of the 2025 results, it said.
In January, IG completed its GBP86.8 million acquisition of Australian cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve.
On Tuesday, the company named Virgin Media Ltd alum Andrew Barron as board chair designate and non-executive director, replacing Mike McTighe, who served as chair since 2020.
Shares in Lion Finance, the Tbilisi-based lender formerly known as Bank of Georgia Group, have more than doubled over the past 12 months.
Last week, Lion approved a GEL53.5 million, GBP14.71 million, extension to its buyback programme, expected to run until its general meeting in May. The lender reported 2025 profit before one-offs of GEL2.19 billion, up from GEL1.81 billion in 2024. Net interest income rose to GEL2.97 billion from GEL2.36 billion.
easyJet shares have declined 9.3% in the past 12 months and 16% this year. The move comes after the low-cost airline recorded a worse than expected first quarter loss.
In January, easyJet reported a headline pretax loss of GBP93 million in the three months to December, which stretched from GBP61 million the year prior, and above the GBP88 million Bloomberg consensus.
While the company highlighted strong bookings for the summer season, it said increased investment meant losses widened in its first quarter.
Shares in London-based pharmaceutical company Hikma have dropped 42% over the past year. On Thursday, the firm delivered a softer than hoped outlook for 2026.
Hikma sees revenue growth in the 2% to 4% range, slowing from 7% in 2025, and core operating profit of USD720 million to USD770 million, below company compiled consensus of USD784 million.
Hikma also withdrew mid-term guidance following a strategic review "of the plans and projections for the group, and for the Injectables business in particular."
Joining the FTSE 250 are CVS Group PLC and the Schiehallion Fund Ltd.
Norfolk, England-based provider of veterinary services CVS has seen its shares rise 26% over the past year. In January, CVS welcomed government proposals for the pet care sector, believing reforms "will help strengthen consumer confidence in the profession".
Schiehallion shares are up 46% over the past 12 months. In December, the Guernsey-based investment fund said the reported USD1.5 trillion valuation of Elon Musk's SpaceX had boosted its net asset value.
Leaving the FTSE 250 are Future PLC and Pinewood Technologies Group PLC.
Future is a Bath, England-based online magazine publisher and owner of price comparison website Go Compare. Last month, Future said year-to-date trading has been in line with expectations, but warned Programmatic Advertising and eCommerce revenue "remain challenging," reflecting lower audience trends.
Future shares are down 54% over the past year.
Shares in Pinewood, a Birmingham, England-based firm that provides software for automotive sellers, are down 20% over the past year and 46% over the past six months.
The company last month announced that former suitor Apax Partners LLP no longer intends to make an acquisition offer.
In February, FTSE Russell projected that NCC Group PLC and Rightmove PLC would leave the FTSE 250, while Tritax Big Box REIT PLC was expected to join the FTSE 100.
The companies will retain their positions.
By Aidan Lane, Alliance News reporter
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IGBank Of Georgia GroupeasyJetHikma PharmaceuticalsCVS GroupFutureThe Schiehalli.Pinewood Technologies GroupTritax Big BoxNccRightmove