FTSE 250 movers: Ashtead up on positive read-across from US peer

Rental equipment firm Ashtead was a high riser on the back of a positive read-across from US peer United Rentals which beat consensus estimates after the closing bell on Wall Street last night. "We stress these successive record quarterly performances from both United Rentals and Ashtead are being delivered without the benefit, as yet, of any macroeconomic recovery," said US broker Jefferies. Oil and gas exploration and production company Heritage Oil dropped after it saw losses from continuing operations widen in 2011 as it cranked up its capital expenditure programme. Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com saw its shares take the plunge despite saying it has made a good start to the second quarter as strength at its money and insurance division offset a weaker performance at its travel section. Internet revenue increased 14% in the first quarter from a year earlier while core earnings climbed 12% as cash conscious consumers looked for competitive online deals.European IT services provider Computacenter also took a hit after saying that margins had been hit in the first quarter due to the costs of moving staff into new roles in its services division and sales commissions. FTSE 250 - RisersAshtead Group (AHT) 253.80p +4.79%Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,280.00p +4.23%BTG (BGC) 373.20p +3.84%Kenmare Resources (KMR) 50.80p +3.36%Exillon Energy (EXI) 133.00p +2.31%AG Barr (BAG) 1,171.00p +2.27%Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CW.) 36.94p +2.24%Ophir Energy (OPHR) 544.00p +2.16%Telecom Plus (TEP) 693.00p +1.91%Perform Group (PER) 306.10p +1.69%FTSE 250 - FallersBBA Aviation (BBA) 201.10p -3.78%Shanks Group (SKS) 91.80p -3.37%Heritage Oil (HOIL) 141.60p -3.34%Chemring Group (CHG) 379.50p -3.04%Supergroup (SGP) 578.00p -3.02%HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd (HICL) 119.90p -2.99%Hays (HAS) 89.80p -2.92%KCOM Group (KCOM) 70.00p -2.78%Kesa Electricals (KESA) 58.00p -2.77%New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 414.80p -2.67%NR