Man Group leapt after it confirmed it is in talks to buy US money manager Numeric Holdings. The world's largest publicly traded hedge-fund manager said the discussions are "ongoing and may or may not lead to a transaction". Numeric, which uses quantitative analysis to make investments, manages $13.9bn.Tate & Lyle moved higher after it produced annual revenues, profits and earnings broadly in line with expectations, despite facing tough competition in artificial sweeteners and adverse weather effects. With sales down 3% in real and constant currencies to £3.15bn for the year to end-March, adjusted pre-tax profits of £322m were flat at constant currencies, but down 2% in real terms and a teaspoonful below forecasts.Investment trust Electra Private Equity climbed after it said its net asset value rose 5% in the six months to the end of March as 2014 start with a record level of new investment and strong performance from its investment portfolio. Electra Private Equity's assets, which are managed by Electra Partners, an independent investment group specialising in medium sized acquisitions, said diluted net asset value per share rose to 2,914p from the comparative period a year ago. Mitchells & Butlers was firmly in positive territory after it confirmed that it has entered into exclusive discussions regarding the potential acquisition of a majority stake in the Orchid Group.Both revenue and profit came in higher for the year ended March 31st, payment transaction group Paypoint revealed today, prompting a modest rise in shares. Revenue for the year came in at £212.2m, up 1.7% from £208.5m a year earlier, while on a net revenue basis the figure was £113.7m, up 7.7% from £105.7m. Consensus estimates were for £115m.Meanwhile, housebuilders were heading in the opposite direction following the release of the latest data on the Help to Buy scheme, which, according to analysts, indicated a limited impact. Redrow, Berkeley, Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Homes and Bellway were all in the bottom 10 this afternoon.FTSE 250 - RisersMan Group (EMG) 100.80p +6.33%Evraz (EVR) 108.60p +4.62%Ladbrokes (LAD) 149.40p +4.40%esure Group (ESUR) 260.70p +4.28%Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 552.50p +3.95%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 699.00p +3.63%Booker Group (BOK) 144.10p +3.37%Just Retirement Group (JRG) 153.80p +3.29%Ophir Energy (OPHR) 256.70p +3.13%Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,185.00p +3.02%FTSE 250 - FallersRedrow (RDW) 266.00p -4.39%Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 2,226.00p -3.22%Aveva Group (AVV) 2,248.00p -2.81%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 108.10p -2.79%Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 755.50p -2.52%Close Brothers Group (CBG) 1,334.00p -2.27%Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,307.00p -2.24%ITE Group (ITE) 234.10p -2.13%AL Noor Hospitals Group (ANH) 1,030.00p -1.90%Bellway (BWY) 1,362.00p -1.87%NR