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The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Thursday. ---------- FTSE 100 winners ---------- Autotrader Group PLC, up 5.9% at 529.80 pence Hiscox Ltd, up 5.5% at 1,635.00p, reports positive first-quarter results JD Sports Fashion PLC, up 4.3% at 70.92p, raises dividend as sales increase Lion Finance Group PLC, up 3.8% at 11,610.00p, extends buyback as quarterly profit rises InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, up 3.7% at 151.30p, trades strongly despite conflict impact ---------- FTSE 100 losers ---------- Centrica PLC, down 4.8% at 199.50p, optimistic on infrastructure earnings, buys power station Relx PLC, down 4.3% at 2,511.00p, Morgan Stanley cuts to ’equal-weight’, also goes ex-dividend Admiral Group PLC, down 4.2% at 3,204.00p Coca-Cola HBC AG, down 3.4% at 4,277.00p, maintains annual guidance despite sales rise BAE Systems PLC, down 3.3% at 68.50p ---------- FTSE 250 winners ---------- Helios Towers PLC, up 16% at 235.02 pence, first-quarter earnings rise TBC Bank Group PLC, up 5.2% at 4,742.00p Johnson Service Group PLC, up 5.1% at 137.85p, launches buyback as revenue rises Pan African Resources PLC, up 3.2% at 153.28p Dr Martens PLC, up 3.1% at 64.95p ---------- FTSE 250 losers ---------- ME Group International PLC, down 5.3% at 141.80p AG Barr PLC, down 2.8% at 616.50p Inchcape PLC, down 2.4% at 820.40p Clarkson PLC, down 2.4% at 4,845.36p Hunting PLC, down 2.3% at 488.50p ---------- FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus: ---------- Hiscox Ltd, up 5.5% at 1,635.00 pence, 12-month range 1,130.00p-1,646.00p. The Bermuda-based insurance provider says the outlook for 2026 is ‘positive’ after reporting accelerating growth in its retail business. Insurance contract written premiums increase by 10% to $1.72 billion in the three months to March from $1.56 billion a year ago, driven by ‘accelerating momentum in Retail and disciplined growth in big-ticket.’ Retail ICWP increases by 15%, or 8.0% at constant currency, in line with full-year guidance, with growth stepping up across all businesses. Hiscox UK ICWP firms by 8.9% in constant currency, underpinned by increased production from distribution deals, brand investment and deepening sector specialisms. Hiscox Europe ICWP improves by 6.8% in constant currency, with sustained strong growth in Germany and France, its two largest markets. Hiscox US ICWP increases by 8.5%, while Hiscox London Market’s grows by 4.0%. ‘With our sharp focus on profitable growth and good progress on the change programme objectives, the outlook for 2026 is positive,’ Chief Executive Aki Hussain says. Company says it remains on track to deliver $75 million profit and loss benefit in 2026, heading towards the target of $200 million annual P&L benefit in 2028 and beyond. ---------- Centrica PLC, down 4.8% at 199.50 pence, 12-month range 144.30p-220.30p. Says it ‘continues to make good progress on the execution of its strategy’, ahead of its annual general meeting. Expects capital investment of £1.1 billion for 2026. Says the Retail unit adjusted Ebitda is expected to be at the lower end of its £500 million to £800 million outlook range, which Centrica puts down to warmer weather so far this year and ‘continued challenges in residential energy bad debt collection’. But the Infrastructure unit’s adjusted Ebitda is set to be at the upper end of a £500 million to £650 million outlook range on higher realised prices. Retail adjusted Ebitda amounted to £557 million in 2025, while in Infrastructure it was £669 million. ‘The outlook is subject to the usual uncertainties for the balance of the year, including weather, commodity prices, regulation and government policy. We also continue to monitor the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,’ Centrica adds. Says Retail profit is being pressured by ‘challenges in residential energy bad debt collection’, though at Infrastructure, it is seeing a boost from strong realised prices. The Windsor, England-based owner of British Gas has also acquired the Severn combined-cycle gas turbine from Calon Energy Group for £370 million. ---------- Helios Towers PLC, up 16% at 235.02 pence, 12-month range 107.00p-237.60p. The London-based telecommunications tower owner reports adjusted Ebitda of $127.2 million for the first quarter, up 14% from $111.1 million the year before. Tenancies rise 11% on-year to 33,350 from 30,074. Return on invested capital increases to 14.5% from 13.8%. Says it has increased its tenancy additions outlook by 1,000, and now aims for a ‘record’ of between 3,000 and 3,500 tenancy additions for 2026. ‘I am delighted with our strong first-quarter performance, which highlights the structural growth momentum across our markets,’ comments CEO Tom Greenwood. ‘Demand for data and connectivity across Africa and the Middle East remains exceptionally strong, with our mobile operator customers accelerating investment, driving significantly increased demand for our infrastructure.’ ‘It has been a very positive start to our IMPACT 2030 strategic cycle and we are uniquely positioned to capture highly accretive organic growth,’ he adds. ---------- Coca-Cola HBC AG, down 3.4% at 4,277.00 pence, 12-month range 3,270.00p-4,890.00p. The Zug, Switzerland-based soft drinks bottler lifts its 2026 finance costs estimate to between €45 million and €65 million, from €25 million to €45 million. Still expects organic revenue growth for 2026 in its 6% to 7% medium-term target range, and aims for organic earnings before interest and tax growth between 7% and 10%. Net sales revenue in 2025 amounted to €11.60 billion, while the operating Ebit was €1.31 billion. For the first quarter, net sales revenue shoots up 12% on-year to €2.71 billion from €2.42 billion, and grows at largely the same pace on an organic basis. Volumes rise 9.7% on a reported basis and 9.6% organically. Net revenue per unit case is 2.2% higher, up 1.8% organically. ---------- JD Sports Fashion PLC, up 4.3% at 70.92 pence, 12-month range 63.98p-106.18p. The Lancashire, England-based retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands reports a ‘resilient’ year ended January 31, with sales rising 11% to £12.66 billion from £11.46 billion. However, pretax profit falls 12% to £629 million from £715 million, and basic earnings per share fall 9.2% to 8.63 pence from 9.50p. The dividend for the year increases 20%, however, to 1.20p from 1.00p. Free cash flow rises 36% to £462 million from £339 million. ‘We delivered a resilient performance, achieving organic sales growth of 2.1% despite tough market conditions,’ says Chief Executive Regis Schultz, touting the firm’s ‘customerled focus, alongside disciplined cost and capital management’. Says first-quarter organic sales are flat annually and down 2.3% on a like-for-like basis. Widens full-year profit guidance range to between £750 million and £850 million. Expects free cash flow between £460 million and £520 million. ‘Whilst we continue to expect muted market growth in FY27, we remain confident in JD Group’s mediumterm trajectory, underpinned by our strong brand partnerships and agile, multibrand model,’ Schultz says. JD Sports also announces a rolling £200 million annual share buyback ‘as we deploy cash to drive improved returns for shareholders,’ expecting to complete the first £100 million tranche in the first half of the current financial year. ---------- Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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