21st May 2026 10:07
(Alliance News) - The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Thursday.
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FTSE 100 winners
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IG Group Holdings PLC, up 3.1%, at 1,861 pence
Babcock International Group PLC, up 2.3%, at 1,063.25p
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC, up 1.9%, at 1,497.75p, SpaceX IPO filing
JD Sports Fashion PLC, up 1.9%, at 77.61p
Experian PLC, up 1.8%, at 2,677p
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FTSE 100 losers
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Convatec Group PLC, down 5.4%, at 202.6p, affirms guidance
Autotrader Group PLC, down 4.6%, at 473.45p, profit is shy of consensus
Sage Group PLC, down 2.7%, at 872.8p, interim earnings rise
BT Group PLC, down 2.6%, at 225p, yearly revenue falls but profit rises
Bunzl PLC, down 1.5%, at 2,395p, goes ex-dividend
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FTSE 250 winners
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AJ Bell PLC, up 12%, at 598.75p, ups guidance
Qinetiq Group PLC, up 9.3%, at 471.8p, swings to profit
AEP Plantations PLC, up 5.6%, at 1,855p, fell 21% on Wednesday
Investec PLC, up 5.1%, at 642.5p, annual profit rises
Funding Circle Holdings PLC, up 4.1%, at 141.3p
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FTSE 250 losers
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Mitchells & Butlers PLC, down 8.2%, at 231.75p, sales growth cools
Playtech PLC, down 3.8%, at 351p
RS Group PLC, down 3.4%, at 666.5p, had risen 15% on Wednesday
Ithaca Energy PLC, down 3.0%, at 266.4p
Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd, down 2.6%, at 80.2p, shares go ex-dividend
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FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:
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AJ Bell PLC, up 12% at 598.75p, 12-month range 414.40p-608.00p. The investment platform hails an "excellent financial performance" in its first half to March 31, with revenue up 19% to GBP183.0 million, from GBP153.2 million a year prior. Pretax profit jumped 35% to GBP92.8 million from GBP68.8 million. AJ Bell ups its dividend by 11% to 5.00 pence per share from 4.50p. In addition, it sets out an "additional share buyback programme of up to GBP15 million". The firm adds: "We now expect full-year revenue margin, PBT and PBT margin to be higher than previously guided. Excellent returns from our investment in brand and marketing give us confidence to invest more than originally planned in the second half of the year, while still expecting to deliver materially higher profitability."
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Qinetiq Group PLC, up 9.3% at 471.8p, 12-month range 398.45p-579.50p. The defence technology company swings to an annual profit and it extends a share buyback. Pretax profit in the year to March 31 amounted to GBP155 million, swinging from a loss of GBP106 million. Revenue edged down 0.5% to GBP1.92 billion from GBP1.93 billion. Qinetiq's dividend was raised by 24% to 11.00 pence per share from 8.85p, it adds, and it expands its share buyback by GBP200 million, "commencing in March 2027, when we complete our current buyback commitment". For financial 2027, it expects revenue growth between 3% and 5%.
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Mitchells & Butlers PLC, down 8.2%, at 231.75p, 12-month range 229.00p-308.00p. The owner of Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One reports stronger half-year earnings, but says sales growth has cooled. Like-for-like sales in the 30 weeks to April 25 grew 3.0%, but the expansion in the most recent three weeks was 1.1%.
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Autotrader Group PLC, down 4.6% at 473.45p, 12-month range 445.80p-920.00p. It announces plans for a GBP500 million share buyback, and boosts its dividend, but shares fall as annual profit and revenue are shy of market expectations. Operating profit increased 4% to GBP392.7 million from GBP376.8 million, but missed GBP398.7 million company compiled consensus. Revenue ticked up 3.9% to GBP624.3 million from GBP601.1 million, but was also below GBP632.0 million consensus.
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Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, up 1.9%, at 1,497.75p, 12-month range 964.00p-1,502.00p. Space Exploration Technology's filing with US regulators was revealed Wednesday, laying out plans for what could become the largest initial public offering in history as Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company seeks to raise up to USD75 billion on the public markets. The filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission – the first time SpaceX has publicly disclosed detailed financial information - revealed that the company generated USD18.7 billion in revenue in 2025 and posted an operating loss of USD2.6 billion as it poured money into next-generation rocket development and AI. Scottish Mortgage earlier this month said the value of its investment in SpaceX is just shy of GBP3 billion, although it could be worth more should an initial public offer reach reported valuations.
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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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Mitchells & ButlersIGBabcockScottish MortgageJD SportsExperianConvaTecAuto TraderSage GroupBTBunzlAJ BellQinetiqAnglo-Eastern PlantationsInvestecFunding CirclePlaytechIthaca EnergyBluefield Solar