FTSE 250 movers: Balfour Beatty plunges; Insurers in favour

(Sharecast News) - Balfour Beatty shares plunged after interim results showed its order book has lost £1bn although the construction group posted record improved sales and declare a dividend.

The UK's largest contractor said its's order book reduced to £16.4bn in the six months to June 30.

Sales in the six months to June 30 rose 9% to £4.5m and pre-tax profits slipped to £82m from £83m.

Shares in Direct Line were higher on a read across from FTSE 100 rivals Aviva and Admiral who both posted upbeat interim results.

Plus500 gained as it started the $60m share buyback announced with results this week.

FTSE 250 (MCX) 18,599.68 -0.32%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 159.70p 5.66% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 229.70p 3.66% Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,473.00p 2.86% Close Brothers Group (CBG) 833.50p 2.58% Mobico Group (MCG) 82.80p 2.54% Hill and Smith (HILS) 1,822.00p 1.90% BH Macro Ltd. GBP Shares (BHMG) 357.00p 1.71% Dr. Martens (DOCS) 157.40p 1.61% VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd. (VOF) 463.00p 1.54% Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX) 142.00p 1.36%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Balfour Beatty (BBY) 302.00p -12.92% Synthomer (SYNT) 73.70p -5.93% Just Group (JUST) 80.10p -3.38% Capita (CPI) 19.17p -3.33% Wood Group (John) (WG.) 152.90p -2.80% Digital 9 Infrastructure NPV (DGI9) 54.20p -2.17% C&C Group (CDI) (CCR) 138.20p -1.99% Hammerson (HMSO) 25.80p -1.98% Trainline (TRN) 241.20p -1.95% ITV (ITV) 71.28p -1.90%