FTSE 250 movers: Playtech rises after boosting dividend

Playtech shares rose strongly after the group reported a rise in revenue and boosted its interim dividend. It also confirmed several new contracts. Net assets doubled at IP Group, thanks to a £100m capital raising, the acquisition of Fusion IP and a big increase in the value of its portfolio companies. The company was a strong riser on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, further weakening in sales during the third quarter cast a further pall over industrial printing group Xaar's already disappointing interim results, with full year expectations downgraded for the second time this summer. The group dropped into the bottom spot after posting a 10% decline in sales to £60.4m and a 28% slump in profit before tax. Online grocer Ocado was in the red after Redburn analysts issued a 'sell' recommendation, slashed their price target from 500p to 257p and reduced their sales forecasts. Africa-focused energy group Afren was another big faller following the news it has suspended two associate directors amid suspected unauthorised payments in the firm, which had seen its chief executive and chief operating officer also suspended. The company suspended Osman Shahenshah, its chief executive, and Shahid Ullah, its chief operating officer in July as part of its investigation into the claims.FTSE 250 - RisersCSR (CSR) 771.50p +34.17%Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 217.00p +6.48%Playtech (PTEC) 702.00p +5.88%IP Group (IPO) 215.60p +3.41%DCC (DCC) 3,537.00p +2.31%Hunting (HTG) 913.50p +2.12%Ted Baker (TED) 1,940.00p +1.84%Northgate (NTG) 508.00p +1.80%Perform Group (PER) 213.60p +1.71%BH Macro Ltd. GBP Shares (BHMG) 1,964.00p +1.34%FTSE 250 - FallersXaar (XAR) 430.00p -23.21%Ocado Group (OCDO) 353.10p -12.51%Afren (AFR) 101.80p -7.87%Spectris (SXS) 1,952.00p -4.78%International Personal Finance (IPF) 521.50p -4.57%AO World (AO.) 220.70p -4.46%Vedanta Resources (VED) 984.50p -4.14%Cairn Energy (CNE) 183.20p -3.83%Debenhams (DEB) 65.45p -3.82%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 131.20p -3.81%NR Ip Group Ocado Playtech