3rd Sep 2026 10:55
(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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Airtel Africa PLC, up 4.2% at 356.10 pence
Vodafone Group PLC, up 3.1% at 123.15p
Metlen Energy & Metals PLC, up 2.3% at EUR47.68
Weir Group PLC, up 1.6% at 2,698.00p
Diploma PLC, up 1.6% at 7,247.50p
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FTSE 100 losers
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Admiral Group PLC, down 2.5% at 3,835.00p, shares trade ex-dividend
Aviva PLC, down 1.7% at 719.30p, shares trade ex-dividend
Bunzl PLC, down 1.1% at 2,683.00p
Diageo PLC, down 1.1% at 1,675.25p
Smith & Nephew PLC, down 1.0% at 1,051.75p
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FTSE 250 winners
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Hilton Food Group PLC, up 15% at 724.00 pence, upgrades full-year adjusted pretax profit forecast
Rosebank Industries PLC, up 5.3% at 360.00p, narrows operating loss
WPP Group PLC, up 4.4% at 377.15p
Dunelm Group PLC, up 3.9% at 864.75p
Raspberry Pi Holdings PLC, up 3.4% at 579.25p
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FTSE 250 losers
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Baltic Classifieds Group PLC, down 9.6% at EUR2.44, JPMorgan cuts target to EUR2.09
Ithaca Energy PLC, down 4.7% at 272.60p, shares trade ex-dividend
Hammerson PLC, down 3.5% at 354.20p, shares trade ex-dividend
Chesnara PLC, down 3.3% at 357.00p, shares trade ex-dividend
AEP Plantations PLC, down 3.2% at 195.50p
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FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:
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Hilton Food Group PLC, up 15% at 724.00 pence, 12-month range 447.89p-765.00p. Raises its full-year adjusted pretax profit guidance to between GBP66 million and GBP71 million from GBP60 million to GBP65 million following its first-half performance. Revenue rises 15% to GBP2.28 billion from GBP1.99 billion a year earlier, although the company swings to a statutory pretax loss of GBP7.7 million from a GBP24.3 million profit. Says higher meat volumes demonstrate resilience despite elevated raw material prices and maintains a positive medium-term outlook. Declares an unchanged interim dividend of 10.1p per share.
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Rosebank Industries PLC, up 5.3% at 360.00 pence, 12-month range 294.00p-395.00p. Says trading is ahead of its upgraded 2026 expectations and now expects adjusted operating profit and earnings per share to beat market consensus, with adjusted operating profit consensus at USD314 million. First-half adjusted operating profit swings to USD110 million from a USD3 million loss a year earlier, while the statutory operating loss narrows to USD34 million from USD43 million. Revenue from recently acquired CPM and MW Components totals USD733 million, compared with no contribution a year earlier. Declares a first interim dividend of 2.1 US cents per share.
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M&G PLC, 1.3% at 338.70 pence, 12-month range 247.00p-367.10p. Reports a 15% increase in first-half adjusted operating profit before tax to GBP435 million from GBP378 million, while net inflows from open business rise to GBP2.4 billion from GBP2.1 billion. Its Solvency II coverage ratio improves to 247% from 230% a year earlier. Swings to a pretax loss attributable to equity holders of GBP213 million from a GBP333 million profit, however, largely due to GBP551 million of adverse short-term investment return movements, including a GBP325 million pretax charge linked to proposed UK ground rent reforms. The post-tax loss is GBP165 million, compared with a GBP248 million profit a year earlier. Raises its interim dividend to 6.8p from 6.7p and expects low double-digit adjusted operating profit growth for the full year, while remaining on track to meet its 2025-2027 operating capital generation target.
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Safestore Holdings PLC, down 2.4% at 561.49 pence, 12-month range 554.50p-849.50p. Reports third-quarter revenue of GBP62.2 million, up 4.4% from GBP59.6 million a year earlier, or 4.1% at constant currency. Like-for-like group revenue grows 1.9% at constant currency, with UK revenue up 1.9% and Expansion Markets revenue rising 11.6%, while Paris revenue falls 2.5% amid new-store cannibalisation, unit partitioning and a subdued economic backdrop. Closing occupancy declines to 77.5% from 78.3%, although the average storage rate increases 2.3% to GBP30.66. Now expects financial 2026 adjusted diluted EPRA earnings per share in the lower half of the analyst forecast range of 39.6p to 42.4p. Opens a new store in Watford during the quarter and says its remaining financial 2026 openings remain on track. However, given current trading conditions, Safestore is reviewing the phasing of its 2027-28 UK development programme, while leaving the overall pipeline unchanged.
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Watches of Switzerland Group PLC, down 2.5% at 665.00 pence, 12-month range 332.80p-801.50p. Trading in the first 17 weeks of financial 2027 remains in line with the positive trends reported at its annual results, with strong trading in the US and further signs of market improvement in the UK. The luxury watch retailer says demand is broad-based across its key brands, while Luxury Jewellery, Certified Pre-Owned and Ecommerce continue to deliver diversified growth. The company reiterates full-year guidance for constant-currency revenue growth of 5% to 10% and adjusted Ebit margin expansion of 40 to 80 basis points. It also says the integration of Deutsch & Deutsch is progressing well and its showroom expansion programme remains on track, with several new openings planned before Christmas.
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By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
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Airtel AfricaVodafoneMetlen EnergyWeir GroupDiplomaAdmiralAvivaBunzlDiageoSmith & NephewHilton FoodsRosebankWPPRaspberry PiDunelmBaltic Classifieds GroupIthaca EnergyHammersonChesnaraAnglo-Eastern PlantationsM&GSafestoreWatches Switz