Investment accounts
Adult accounts
Child accounts
Choosing Fidelity
Choosing Fidelity
Why invest with us Current offers Fees and charges Open an account Transfer investments
Financial advice & support
Fidelity’s Services
Fidelity’s Services
Financial advice Retirement Wealth Management Investor Centre (London) Bereavement
Guidance and tools
Guidance and tools
Choosing investments Choosing accounts ISA calculator Retirement calculators
Share dealing
Choose your shares
Tools and information
Tools and information
Share prices and markets Chart and compare shares Stock market news Shareholder perks
Pensions & retirement
Pensions, tax & tools
Saving for retirement
Approaching / In retirement
Approaching / In retirement
Speak to a specialist Creating a retirement plan Taking tax-free cash Pension drawdown Annuities Investing in retirement Investment Pathways
FTSE 250 movers: Spirent and easyJet flying higher
(Sharecast News) - Telecommunications testing company Spirent Communications and low-cost airline easyJet were standout performers on the FTSE 250 on Wednesday with both stocks rising 5.5% on the back of a contract win and strong results, respectively.
Spirent was up after signing a deal with an unnamed financial services organisation to automate its lab and testing capabilities worth $15.0m, of which $12.0m has already been received, with the remainder for additional implementation services due in the new year. The firm also noted that it had recently acquired the test lab automation business of NetScout Systems, a small carve-out based in New Jersey, for "a modest sum", to get its hands on "important intellectual property".
EasyJet meanwhile was extending gains made on Tuesday when it impressed with its full-year results, in which it swung to a profit, delivered a record second-half performance and reinstated its dividend. "The return of easyJet's dividend represents the final tick in the box for its long-awaited recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, following the results.
Shares in Harbour Energy were higher after the oil and gas group held on to its full-year production and cost guidance. The company also expressed its interest in "a number of material M&A opportunities" with market conditions for deal activity said to be "improving".
Water utility Pennon Group underwhelmed with a 5.4% increase in first-half underlying revenue to £448.6m, held back by regulatory measures to minimise the impact on customer bills. Underlying profits dropped by 60%.
Direct Line Insurance was in the red despite some positive words from Deutsche Bank, which upgraded the insurer from 'hold' to 'buy', naming it among its top picks in the sector. The stock's 60% collapse over the past three years is now "in the rear-view mirror", the bank said.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Spirent Communications (SPT) 114.80p 5.51% NCC Group (NCC) 119.20p 5.49% easyJet (EZJ) 444.20p 5.46% Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) 191.10p 4.31% Marshalls (MSLH) 248.00p 4.20% Pets at Home Group (PETS) 305.40p 3.95% Energean (ENOG) 1,030.00p 3.83% Indivior (INDV) 1,285.00p 3.80% Kainos Group (KNOS) 982.50p 3.04% Darktrace (DARK) 351.20p 2.78%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Digital 9 Infrastructure NPV (DGI9) 33.10p -15.78% QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 307.20p -3.88% Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 629.00p -2.93% FirstGroup (FGP) 157.80p -2.59% North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust (NAS) 3,810.00p -2.31% Helios Towers (HTWS) 74.55p -2.29% AJ Bell (AJB) 262.40p -2.24% Pennon Group (PNN) 730.50p -2.14% Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited NPV (SONG) 66.80p -2.05% CAB Payments Holdings (CABP) 59.75p -2.05%
Share this article
Related Sharecast Articles
Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Award-winning online share dealing
Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.
Expert insights into investing your money
Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.
Policies and important information
Accessibility | Conflicts of interest statement | Consumer Duty Target Market | Consumer Duty Value Assessment Statement | Cookie policy | Diversity and Inclusion | Doing Business with Fidelity | Fidelity gender pay report | Investing in Fidelity funds | Legal information | Modern slavery | Mutual respect policy | Privacy statement | Remuneration policy | Security | Statutory and Regulatory disclosures | Whistleblowing policy
Please remember that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance, the performance of investments is not guaranteed, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. When investments have particular tax features, these will depend on your personal circumstances and tax rules may change in the future. This website does not contain any personal recommendations for a particular course of action, service or product. You should regularly review your investment objectives and choices and, if you are unsure whether an investment is suitable for you, you should contact an authorised financial adviser. Before opening an account, please read the ‘Doing Business with Fidelity’ document which incorporates our client terms. Prior to investing into a fund, please read the relevant key information document which contains important information about the fund.
This website is issued by Financial Administration Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (FCA Register number 122169) and registered in England and Wales under company number 1629709 whose registered address is Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 6RP.
