23rd Sep 2026 10:34
(Alliance News) - The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Wednesday.
----------
FTSE 100 winners
----------
Rentokil Initial PLC, up 2.5% at 324.40 pence, broker Investec raises rating to 'buy' from 'hold', sets price target at 400p
London Stock Exchange Group PLC, up 1.1% at 8,247.00p
Standard Chartered PLC, up 1.1% at 2,291.50p, Citi raises price target to 2,370p from 2,230p
Lion Finance Group PLC, up 1.0% at 14,095.00p
BP PLC, up 1.0% at 547.90p
----------
FTSE 100 losers
----------
JD Sports Fashion PLC, down 3.6% at 75.89p, backs lowered outlook amid "tough" trading backdrop
Autotrader Group PLC, down 2.9% at 470.10p
Vodafone Group PLC, down 1.7% at 123.00p
IG Group Holdings PLC, down 1.7% at 1,340.00p
Spirax Group PLC, down 1.6% at 7,157.50p
----------
FTSE 250 winners
----------
Pollen Street Group PLC, up 17% at 954.50 pence, holds talks for possible takeover; says talks at early stage
Renishaw PLC, up 2.7% at 5,682.50p, interim earnings rise
Hays PLC, up 2.4% at 64.53p, Citi ups price target to 65p from 33p
RHI Magnesita NV, up 2.4% at 2,907.50p
Foresight Environmental Infrastructure Ltd, up 1.8% at 89.35p
----------
FTSE 250 losers
----------
Mony Group PLC, down 5.2% at 182.40p
Softcat PLC, down 3.5% at 1,849.00p
Baltic Classifieds Group PLC, down 3.5% at EUR2.19
Auction Technology Group PLC, down 3.0% at 435.20p
Rightmove PLC, down 2.4% at 472.85p
----------
FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:
----------
JD Sports Fashion PLC, down 3.6% at 75.89 pence, 12-month range 106.18p-63.98p. The sportswear retailer reports a sharp rise in statutory pretax profit for the first half, helped by lower adjusting items, but underlying earnings decline amid a "tough" trading environment. Pretax profit rises 75% to GBP241 million from GBP138 million, despite sales edging down 0.7% to GBP5.90 billion from GBP5.94 billion. Profit before tax and adjusting items falls 20% to GBP282 million from GBP351 million, while adjusted operating profit declines 21% to GBP294 million. Like-for-like sales fall 2.8%, with footwear sales down around 3% amid product-cycle headwinds and a highly promotional market, partly offset by around 4% growth in apparel and accessories. JD Sports maintains its financial 2027 guidance for profit before tax and adjusting items of GBP700 million to GBP800 million and free cash flow of GBP460 million to GBP520 million. It raises its interim dividend by 21% to 0.40p per share from 0.33p.
----------
Pollen Street Group PLC, up 17% at 954.50 pence, 12-month range 690.00p-972.00p. The asset manager confirms it has begun assessing strategic options to deliver greater value for shareholders, including a possible take-private transaction, following recent media speculation. Pollen Street says it has opened preliminary discussions with a limited number of third parties to assess their suitability as strategic partners and whether they may be interested in making an offer for the company. The talks are at a very early stage, and there is no certainty that an offer or any other transaction will materialise. The company is now in an offer period under the UK Takeover Code.
----------
Renishaw PLC, up 2.7% at 5,682.50 pence, 12-month range 3,280.00p-5,810.00p. The engineering technology company reports annual pretax profit of GBP150.0 million, up 27% from GBP118.0 million a year earlier, supported by strong demand growth across the semiconductor, aerospace and defence sectors. Renishaw says it has made a strong start to financial 2027 and expects further progress in revenue, profit and operating margin during the year. The company proposes a final dividend of 65.2p per share and approves a special interim dividend of 70.0p, both payable on December 3.
----------
Diageo PLC, down 0.5% at 1,630.00 pence, 12-month range 1,295.50p-1,903.91p. The drinks maker appoints current WPP Chief Financial Officer Joanne Wilson as its new CFO, replacing Nik Jhangiani. Wilson will join Diageo's board and executive committee sometime in 2027, with Jhangiani remaining in the role until then to ensure a smooth handover. Wilson has previously held senior financial and commercial roles at Britvic, dunnhumby, Tesco and KPMG. Diageo Chief Executive Officer Dave Lewis says Wilson will help "accelerate the turnaround" of the drinks maker, citing her experience delivering transformations at previous companies. Jhangiani joined Diageo in September 2024 and served as interim CEO from July to December 2025.
----------
Ceres Power Holdings PLC, up 2.1% at 441.40 pence, 12-month range 114.51p-872.50p. Reports a narrowed pretax loss of GBP15.4 million for the six months ended June 30 from GBP19.0 million a year earlier, as revenue rises 8.0% to GBP22.8 million from GBP21.1 million. Gross profit slips 3.0% to GBP16.1 million from GBP16.6 million, with gross margin falling to 71% from 79%, while operating costs decrease 14% to GBP30.7 million from GBP35.6 million. Its adjusted Ebitda loss narrows to GBP6.8 million from GBP11.3 million. The company reiterates that contracted group revenue for 2026 is around GBP45 million before any new business and says it remains confident of signing one new licensee partner during the year, which could provide additional revenue. Ceres says demand for power continues to grow and points to increasing commercial momentum across its partner network. Cash and short-term investments stand at GBP172.0 million at the end of June, boosted by a GBP102.6 million equity raise.
----------
By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
DiageoCeres PowerRentokil InitialLondon Stock ExchangeStandard CharteredBank Of Georgia GroupBPJD SportsAuto TraderVodafoneIGSpirax-SarcoPollen StreetRenishawHaysRHI MagnesitaForesight EnvrMoneysupermarket.ComSoftcatBaltic Classifieds GroupAuction Technology GroupRightmove