FTSE 250 movers: African Barrick Gold soars

African Barrick Gold was a strong riser despite there being no apparent reason for its gain. Bryce Elder, an FT Alphaville contributor, commented today that 'the volume says to me it may be something more than a highly geared play on the gold price'. UK housebuilder Galliford Try reported an 18% rise in pre-tax profit to £38.1m in the first half, boosted by improved housing market conditions. The company said it achieved a record half-year of results, with profit exceeding the Numis forecast of £37.7m.Morgan Advanced Materials rose after Jefferies moved its target price from 360p to 370p and kept a 'buy' recommendation.Intu Properties moved higher after it raised funds for future projects via the launch of £110m-worth of additional notes under the Trafford Centre Finance Commercial Mortgaged-backed Securities transaction. The company said the funds would be used to develop the pipeline of active management projects and major extensions.Meanwhile, Essar Energy continued to decline one day after the company said throughput fell at its Vadinar and Stanlow refineries in the third quarter due to planned shutdowns. The Indian Vadinar refinery's throughput came to 33.8m barrels or 4.86m metric tonnes in the three months through December 2013, compared to 36.32m barrels or 5.14m metric tonnes a year earlier, due to a seven-day shutdown. Miners Evraz and Vedanta tracked metal prices into the red. FTSE 250 - RisersAfrican Barrick Gold (ABG) 282.50p +5.17%Galliford Try (GFRD) 1,223.00p +4.80%JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 1,428.00p +4.23%IP Group (IPO) 209.20p +3.51%Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 122.50p +2.94%AL Noor Hospitals Group (ANH) 897.50p +2.75%Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 5,135.00p +2.70%Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 156.30p +2.29%Morgan Advanced Materials (MGAM) 336.60p +2.00%DCC (DCC) 3,069.00p +1.99%FTSE 250 - FallersFerrexpo (FXPO) 159.10p -6.90%Catlin Group Ltd. (CGL) 529.50p -4.68%Essar Energy (ESSR) 64.05p -4.40%Evraz (EVR) 82.45p -3.85%Rank Group (RNK) 145.80p -2.80%Ocado Group (OCDO) 570.00p -2.56%Diploma (DPLM) 739.50p -2.44%Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 836.00p -2.34%Vedanta Resources (VED) 898.00p -2.29%Smith (DS) (SMDS) 347.40p -2.22%NR Galliford Try Evraz Morgan Advanced Materials