FTSE 250 (MCX) 23,240.75 1.23%


Emerging markets asset manager Ashmore rallied as it said second-quarter assets under management rose 8% to $3.8bn.

Ashmore said inflows were recorded across both fixed income and equities, with additional allocations into external debt and local currency strategies, as well as new institutional mandates in equities and blended debt.

Oxford Biomedica shot higher after confirming late on Wednesday that it was in preliminary talks with private equity firm EQT, having received unsolicited takeover proposals that were rejected for undervaluing the group.

In a brief statement in response to recent press speculation, the cell and gene therapy company said it is now in preliminary discussions with EQT "to explore whether a proposal can be made at a level that the board would be minded to recommend".

"The discussions follow earlier unsolicited proposals from EQT regarding a possible acquisition of OXB," it said. "The board of OXB, together with its advisers, carefully considered the earlier proposals and rejected them on the basis that they undervalued OXB and its prospects."

Savills gained after saying it delivered a "good" performance in FY25 despite challenging markets.

Homeware retailer Dunelm tanked after saying it expects full-year profits to come in at the lower end of market forecasts as a result of a "challenging environment" in the first half, in which sales growth slowed significantly towards the end of 2025.

Full-year pre-tax profit is now expected to be at the bottom end of the £214m-227m consensus range.

Rathbones jumped, despite Jefferies initiating coverage of the shares with an 'underperform' rating and 1,650p price target.

"This is a solid business, but higher growth and operational gearing are available elsewhere in the wealth sector, and we fear traditional discretionary fund managers will be squeezed by advice businesses, platforms and upmarket players," the bank said.

Oil stocks fell in line with a sharp drop in crude prices overnight as the threat of a US attack on Iran receded.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Ashmore Group (ASHM) 214.40p 17.48%
Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 941.00p 17.04%
Savills (SVS) 1,120.00p 10.02%
Rathbones Group (RAT) 2,135.00p 6.75%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,299.00p 6.21%
Trustpilot Group (TRST) 224.80p 5.34%
Abrdn (ABDN) 220.60p 5.25%
Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 809.00p 5.20%
Renishaw (RSW) 3,830.00p 5.08%
Great Portland Estates (GPE) 341.00p 4.12%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Dunelm Group (DNLM) 955.50p -18.33%
RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd (RTW) 2.26p -2.59%
Energean (ENOG) 918.00p -2.34%
Ithaca Energy (ITH) 168.10p -2.27%
Hays (HAS) 47.38p -2.07%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 206.60p -1.90%
QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 502.50p -1.76%
Endeavour Mining (EDV) 4,084.00p -1.64%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 3,890.00p -1.27%
Chemring Group (CHG) 539.00p -1.10%