FTSE 250 movers: Travel stocks surge; Telecom Plus tanks

(Sharecast News) - FTSE 250 (MCX) 22,840.55 1.77%

Shares surged on reports that the US and Iran were nearing an agreement that could end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Axios news service, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue, said the White House believes it's getting close to an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.

Travel-related stocks rallied, with easyJet, Wizz Air and WH Smith all firmly in the black, while a plunging oil, price saw Ithaca, Harbour Energy, Energean and Diversified Energy all tumble.

Online rail ticket platform Trainline lost ground as it cautioned the Iran war and a series of policy measures in the UK would hit sales this year.

The company on Wednesday said it expected £6.2bn - £6.45bn in sales, compared with £6.3bn in fiscal 2025/26 - a rise of 7%. Adjusted core earnings rose 11% to £177m.

Trainline expects headwinds in the UK from fare freezes and train companies promoting their own ticket channels, while the impact of a series of rail tragedies in Spain was still being felt.

In Britain the government's promotion of contactless payments at stations to simplify the country's complicated ticketing structure and cut reliance on third-party sellers is expected to cut Trainline's UK consumer net ticket sales by around £150m a year.

"In addition, the effects of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on inbound air traffic into Europe is also weighing on foreign travel sales," Trainline said.

Telecom Plus was knocked lower by a downgrade to 'hold' from 'buy' at Deutsche Bank.

FTSE 250 - Risers

WH Smith (SMWH) 525.00p 10.23%

easyJet (EZJ) 369.40p 7.78%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 45.08p 7.54%

Pan African Resources (PAF) 148.78p 7.23%

Endeavour Mining (EDV) 4,591.00p 7.09%

Close Brothers Group (CBG) 480.20p 6.84%

SSP Group (SSPG) 159.30p 6.49%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 636.00p 6.37%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 955.00p 6.36%

Genuit Group (GEN) 259.60p 5.96%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,014.00p -13.04%

Ithaca Energy (ITH) 251.00p -6.59%

Harbour Energy (HBR) 278.80p -4.97%

Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) 710.00p -4.96%

Diversified Energy Company (DI) (DEC) 1,138.00p -4.01%

Trainline (TRN) 232.20p -3.09%

Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited (BSIF) 77.90p -2.50%

Energean (ENOG) 865.00p -2.35%

Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 88.20p -2.22%

VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd. (VOF) 463.00p -2.11%