Betting firm Ladbrokes dropped significantly after it issued a profit warning for its Digital division, blaming increased technology investment, marketing spend and a poor sportsbook margin in the second quarter of 2012. Peel Hunt downgraded the stock from ‘buy’ to ‘hold’ this morning.

Hotels group Millennium & Copthorne was a high riser after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to ‘overweight’ and lifted its target price from 540p to 630p.

Recycled packaging group DS Smith also rose after saying sales volumes of corrugated boxes helped push revenues and profits, while its takeover of Swedish outfit, SCA Packaging, is due for completion by the end of this month.

FTSE 250 – Risers
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 685.00p +4.34%
Essar Energy (ESSR) 118.50p +3.67%
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 39.25p +3.29%
Afren (AFR) 98.50p +2.50%
Phoenix Group Holdings (DI) (PHNX) 487.10p +2.40%
Rightmove (RMV) 1,567.00p +2.22%
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MLC) 477.20p +2.14%
Smith (DS) (SMDS) 139.50p +1.82%
Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 125.60p +1.54%
Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 245.10p +1.32%

FTSE 250 – Fallers
Ladbrokes (LAD) 153.10p -11.91%
Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP) 45.09p -7.72%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 79.90p -6.00%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 109.50p -5.68%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 130.50p -4.26%
Chemring Group (CHG) 278.10p -3.80%
New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 297.90p -3.69%
Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 165.10p -3.45%
Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 256.50p -3.43%
Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 156.50p -3.40%

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