(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 250 was down 1% at 21,196.85 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Stocks with exposure to Covid restrictions were weaker, with Trainline, WH Smith and TUI all lower.
Going the other way, opioid addiction treatment maker Indivior was the top performer on the index ahead of its full-year results on Thursday.
Shaftesbury and Workspace were both higher on the back of an upgrade to 'buy' at Jefferies. The bank said Shaftesbury should benefit from a rise in consumer spending once Covid-19 restrictions are eased.
The bank noted that UK households have saved £200bn and said it expects consumers to "make up for lost time" in the second half of the year.
As far as Workspace is concerned, Jefferies noted that 40% of the UK workforce is working from home, with information and communication businesses having the highest rate and food and accommodation the lowest.
"Business sectors, however, aren't seeing productivity gains after the initial adrenaline rush and few intend to sustain these WFH rates permanently," it said.
Plus500 gained after saying it would buy back up to $25m of shares and pay a special dividend as the trading platform announced record earnings driven by volatile markets during the Covid-19 crisis.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Indivior (INDV) 147.50p 3.80%
Shaftesbury (SHB) 613.00p 3.29%
TP ICAP (TCAP) 210.00p 3.14%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 427.40p 2.74%
Vietnam Enterprise Investments (DI) (VEIL) 622.00p 2.47%
Workspace Group (WKP) 740.50p 2.35%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 341.60p 2.09%
VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd. (VOF) 437.00p 1.63%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 254.00p 1.60%
Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,400.00p 1.52%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Trainline (TRN) 472.60p -5.18%
Network International Holdings (NETW) 353.80p -4.89%
Morgan Advanced Materials (MGAM) 308.50p -4.78%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,618.00p -4.77%
Investec (INVP) 204.60p -4.75%
Hammerson (HMSO) 21.88p -4.25%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 347.50p -3.90%
Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 655.50p -3.89%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 219.00p -3.86%
Bellway (BWY) 2,925.00p -3.85%