FTSE 250 Movers: Micro Focus leads the way higher

7th Dec 2011 15:46

Micro Focus International saw its shares leap almost 6% after it announced today that revenues fell 2.6% in the first half, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 8.5%. It also revealed that it intends to return around $134.4m in cash by way of a B and C share scheme. Evolution Securities has kept its buy rating on the business software firm saying that the company is a "cash monster" following the announcement. Carillion, the support services firm, was also up after saying that it expects its underlying pre-tax profit and earnings per share for the year ended 31 December to increase strongly. Revenues are set to be in line with those of the previous year, but operating margin is expected to see strong increases, leading to greater profitability.Following suit, bus and train operator Stagecoach was higher despite reporting an 18% drop in half year pre-tax profit after a weak performance at its UK rail division. The FTSE 250 transport company said pre-tax profit fell to £88.7m for the six months ended 31 October 2011 from £108.7m the year before. Revenue for the period rose to £1.29bn from £1.13bn previously.Cable & Wireless Worldwide was on the up after Gavin Darby, the newly appointed chief executive, put his money where his mouth is and bought up £337,800-worth of shares in the telecoms firm. Darby, 55, who joined the firm on 28 November to replace John Pluthero, purchased two million shares at 16.89p each. Meanwhile, Anglo-French firm Kesa took the bottom spot after it saw its first half results dragged down by Comet, the electrical retailer it has agreed to sell for just £2. Kesa posted a loss on its retail business of €9.2m, but a profit of €16.5m when Comet was stripped out.FTSE 250 - RisersMicro Focus International Plc (MCRO) 404.20p +5.95%Stagecoach Group (SGC) 262.70p +5.67%Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CW.) 17.65p +4.75%Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 2,767.00p +4.53%Homeserve (HSV) 292.40p +3.76%Pace (PIC) 69.05p +3.52%Carillion (CLLN) 316.70p +3.36%Hunting (HTG) 724.50p +2.04%SDL (SDL) 675.00p +1.96%Stobart Group Ltd. (STOB) 119.90p +1.78%FTSE 250 - FallersKesa Electricals (KESA) 74.30p -9.06%Debenhams (DEB) 59.10p -6.56%Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 248.40p -6.44%AZ Electronic Materials SA (WI) (AZEM) 237.20p -5.98%Electrocomponents (ECM) 194.90p -5.62%Tullett Prebon (TLPR) 285.00p -5.00%Britvic (BVIC) 315.10p -4.46%Henderson Group (HGG) 112.90p -4.40%Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 236.90p -4.24%Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) 268.50p -4.11%NR