20th Aug 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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Weir Group PLC, up 2.4% at 2,705.00 pence
Severn Trent PLC, up 1.3% at 3,108.00p
Diageo PLC, up 1.2% at 1,709.75p
BP PLC, up 1.1% at 545.00p
United Utilities Group PLC, up 1.0% at 1,422.50p
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FTSE 100 losers
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JD Sports Fashion PLC, down 15% at 79.29p, lowers profit outlook amid North America struggles
Investec PLC, down 4.4% at 635.25p, shares trade ex-dividend
Legal & General Group PLC, down 3.5% at 287.55p, shares trade ex-dividend
Coca-Cola HBC AG, down 2.4% at 4,409.00p
Entain PLC, down 2.2% at 531.90p, shares trade ex-dividend
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FTSE 250 winners
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Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC, up 6.8% at 149.25 pence
Pan African Resources PLC, up 3.9% at 123.05p
Ithaca Energy PLC, up 3.7% at 267.20p, broker BofA ups price target to 285p from 275p
Hochschild Mining PLC, up 2.9% at 570.00p
Helios Towers PLC, up 2.8% at 206.70p
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FTSE 250 losers
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Trainline PLC, down 8.8% at 190.40p, extends Wednesday's losses after the UK CMA opens investigation
Hays PLC, down 4.5% at 68.25p, swings to statutory pretax loss in financial 2026
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC, down 3.8% at 34.70p
Plus500 Ltd, down 3.6% at 3,636.00p, shares trade ex-dividend
Dr Martens PLC, down 3.3% at 82.75p
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FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:
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JD Sports Fashion PLC, down 15% at 79.29 pence, 12-month range 63.98p-106.18p. Cuts financial 2027 adjusted pretax profit guidance to GBP700 million to GBP800 million from GBP750 million to GBP850 million amid tougher-than-expected trading, particularly in North America. Second-quarter group organic sales fall 1.3%, against consensus for 0.5% growth, while like-for-like sales decline 3.1%, worse than the expected 2.0% fall. North American like-for-like sales drop 6.8%, compared with consensus for a 0.6% decline, reflecting weaker consumer sentiment, slower demand for high-heat footwear and delayed back-to-school spending. UK trading fares better, with like-for-like sales rising 0.8%, versus expectations for a 2.9% decline. JD Sports says promotional conditions and consumer and footwear product-cycle headwinds may persist into the second half, while maintaining free cash flow guidance of GBP460 million to GBP520 million.
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Trainline PLC, down 8.8% at 190.40 pence, 12-month range 178.00p-307.60p. Extends Wednesday's losses after the UK Competition & Markets Authority opens a formal consumer protection investigation into how mandatory booking fees are presented on its platform. The CMA is examining whether mandatory train and coach booking fees are included in the total upfront price shown to customers at the start of the booking process. If it ultimately finds an infringement, the regulator can order customer compensation and impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover.
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Hays PLC, down 4.5% at 68.25 pence, 12-month range 28.68p-72.83p. Swings to a statutory pretax loss in financial 2026 as exceptional costs nearly triple, outweighing an improvement in underlying profitability, while saying trading at the start of the new financial year is in line with expectations. The staffing provider reports a pretax loss of GBP54.5 million for the year ended June 30, compared with a GBP1.5 million profit a year earlier, while diluted loss per share widens to 3.64 pence from 0.49p. Net fees fall 7% to GBP905.5 million from GBP972.4 million and the total dividend is cut to 0.44p from 1.24p, with the final dividend unchanged at 0.29p. Exceptional costs rise to GBP89.6 million from GBP30.7 million, reflecting operational restructuring, property rationalisation, business disposals and impairments linked to the rollout of its new 'Momentum' strategy. Excluding exceptional items, pretax profit rises 9% to GBP35.1 million and operating profit increases 7% to GBP48.6 million. Hays says it expects further cost reductions in financial 2027 and that trading in July and August has been in line with expectations, with no significant change in activity levels from the fourth quarter.
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Standard Life PLC, up 0.2% at 906.00 pence, 12-month range 633.50p-948.50p. Forms a partnership to expand its UK pension risk transfer business, backed by an initial capital commitment of up to GBP2 billion over five years. Standard Life will contribute GBP500 million, with the remainder provided by institutional investors including CVC Capital Partners, Prudential Financial, Goldman Sachs and MS&AD Insurance. The partnership, over which Standard Life will retain full operational control, is designed to help it compete for larger and more complex defined-benefit pension schemes. Standard Life expects the venture to generate new fee-based income and support mid-single-digit annual operating cash generation growth, with only a minor near-term impact on capital and solvency ratios.
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Temple Bar Investment Trust PLC, down 1.6% at 419.50 pence, 12-month range 335.00p-429.00p. Reports a first-half fair-value net asset value total return of 5.4%, underperforming its benchmark's 7.2% return and slowing sharply from 34% in 2025. Fair-value NAV per share rises to 385.9p at June 30 from 373.4p at the end of December. Declares a second interim dividend of 3.90p per share.
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By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
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Related Shares:
Weir GroupSevern TrentDiageoBPUnited UtilitiesJD SportsInvestecLegal & GeneralCoca-Cola HBCEntainDr. MartensPlus500Aston Martin LagondaHaysTrainlineStandard LifeTemple Bar Investment Trust