2nd 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
----------
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, up 1.7% at USD158.50, UBS ups rating to 'buy', sets price target at USD188
Admiral Group PLC, up 1.2% at 3,982.00 pence
NatWest Group PLC, up 1.2% at 690.70p, Morgan Stanley raises rating to 'overweight', Jefferies ups price target
Endeavour Mining PLC, up 0.7% at 4,513.50p
Halma PLC, up 0.5% at 3,546.00p, buys Texas-based water quality monitoring specialist Pyxis
----------
FTSE 100 losers
----------
Computacenter PLC, down 3.3% at 5,325.00p
Pearson PLC, down 2.5% at 1,195.75p, Citi cuts rating to 'neutral', sets price target at 1,345p
Smith & Nephew PLC, down 2.2% at 1,046.50p
JD Sports Fashion PLC, down 2.1% at 82.20p, Barclays buts price target to 85p from 90p
St James's Place PLC, down 1.8% at 1,145.25p
----------
FTSE 250 winners
----------
Princes Group PLC, up 3.1% at 319.50 pence
Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC, up 2.4% at 163.90p
Harbour Energy PLC, up 1.7% at 259.00p
Avon Technologies PLC, up 1.4% at 1,826.00p, its Team Wendy Ceradyne business receives a USD20.3 million order
Ithaca Energy PLC, up 1.4% at 283.40p
----------
FTSE 250 losers
----------
Foresight Group Holdings Ltd, down 4.1% at 465.75p
Applied Nutrition PLC, down 4.0% at 315.75p
AEP Plantations PLC, down 3.8% at 194.30p
GB Group PLC, down 3.0% at 155.40p, broker Berenberg cuts rating to 'hold'
WPP PLC, down 2.6% at 360.40p
----------
FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:
----------
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, up 1.7% at USD158.50, 12-month range 125.05p-172.75p. UBS upgrades the hotel operator to 'buy' from 'neutral' and raises its price target to USD188.00 from USD157.65, citing an attractive valuation and visible earnings growth. The broker says IHG's current discount to Hilton should disappear, supported by its exposure to recovering markets including China and the Middle East, asset-light business model and strong record of capital returns. Following a stronger-than-expected first half, UBS raises its 2026 and 2027 earnings per share forecasts by around 4% and now expects 2026 revenue per available room growth of 3.5% and net unit growth of 5.0%. It also sees scope for IHG to return more than USD4.5 billion to shareholders by the end of the decade.
----------
Halma PLC, up 0.5% at 3,546.00 pence, 12-month range 3,194.00p-4,902.00p. Acquires Texas-based water quality monitoring specialist Pyxis for an initial cash consideration of USD170 million, with up to USD30 million in additional earn-out payments tied to performance through March 2029. The acquisition, funded from existing facilities, brings a provider of real-time water quality sensors and monitoring systems into Halma's Environmental & Analysis sector. Pyxis, founded in 2013 and headquartered near Houston, is forecast to generate unaudited revenue of about USD39 million, around GBP29 million, in the 12 months to March 31, 2027, and will continue to operate as a standalone business under its existing management team.
----------
Avon Technologies PLC, up 1.4% at 1,826.00 pence, 12-month range 1,458.00p-2,180.00p. Says its Team Wendy Ceradyne business receives a further USD20.3 million delivery order from the US Defense Logistics Agency for second-generation Advanced Combat Helmets. The award brings orders under the framework contract to the maximum volume authorised for the current option year. Avon says the order demonstrates the DLA's confidence in Team Wendy's manufacturing and delivery performance and supports its long-term relationship with the customer.
----------
GB Group PLC, down 3.0% at 155.40 pence, 12-month range 151.00p-265.00p. Berenberg downgrades the identity verification company to 'hold' from 'buy' and cuts its price target to 190p from 260p following GBG's recent profit warning. The broker highlights limited visibility and intense competition in the US identity verification market after higher-than-expected customer volume attrition prompted GBG to cut its financial 2027 revenue growth guidance to 1%-3% from mid-single digits. Berenberg reduces its revenue forecasts for financial 2027, 2028 and 2029 by 3%, 5% and 7%, respectively, and adjusted operating profit estimates by 7%, 6% and 10%. It warns that further downgrades remain a significant risk and believes delivering both a material acceleration in growth and significant margin expansion will be challenging in the near term.
----------
BP PLC, down 0.6% at 538.20 pence, 12-month range 399.35p-609.40p. Confirms Interim Chair Ian Tyler as permanent chair with immediate effect, following a period of boardroom upheaval at the oil major. Tyler has led the board on an interim basis since former Chair Albert Manifold departed in May and says he will oversee its evolution while supporting BP's strategic priorities and long-term value creation. Senior Independent Director Amanda Blanc will step down from the board once a successor is appointed and will not seek re-election at BP's 2027 annual general meeting. Tyler joined the BP board as a non-executive director in April 2025 and also chairs Grafton Group and serves as senior independent director of Anglo American.
----------
By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
InterContinental HotelsAdmiralNatwestEndeavour MiningHalmaComputacenterPearsonSmith & NephewJD SportsSt James's PlacePrinces GroupOxford Nanopore TechnologiesHarbour EnergyAvon ProtectionIthaca EnergyForesight Group HoldingsApplied Nutrition PLCAnglo-Eastern PlantationsGb GroupWPPBPAnglo American