Newcomers eye promotion in FTSE 100 index reshuffle

(ShareCast News) - Irish packaging group Smurfit Kappa, newly listed medical product company ConvaTec Group and online car retailer Auto Trader could make the leap into the FTSE 100 benchmark on Wednesday as part of the quarterly FTSE Russell index reshuffle.Making way could be precious metals producer Polymetal International after only one quarter in the top flight index as the Russian gold producer recoils due to the reversal of the gold price since the US election, along with building materials supplier Travis Perkins, which stumbles out after its profit warning last month.Unless their shares suffer big losses early in the week, shopping centre owner Intu Properties, outsourcer Capita and retailer Dixons Carphone should be safe from being relegated to the mid-cap index for now.The changes, weighted using market capitalisation as of Tuesday's closing prices, will be confirmed after market close on Wednesday and will be put into practice on 19 December.ConvaTec, which produces products in wound therapeutics, ostomy care, continence and critical care, and infusion devices, only listed in London at the end of October this month.Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa, one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging products, was promoted to the FTSE 250 in June, having moved its primary listing from Ireland to London in April.Auto Trader, which was floated by Apax and Guardian Media Group at 235p in March last year, topped 400p coming into 2016 but has seen its shares waver below there since and would be more likely to be pipped by Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust.It would be only the second investment trust to ever become listed on the FTSE 100, noted analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown, who said it was likely that there would be "two down and two up", with Polymetal and Travis Perkins relegated and Convatec Group to be joined by Smurfit or Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust.Indicative price data suggested Weir Group, Rentokil Initial and Just Eat, could also be in for a promotion shout, given a late surge.Retailer DFS Furniture, cyber security expert NCC Group, tech company Laird and estate agent Countrywide were in the hat for potential demotions from the FTSE 250.The previous review saw Polymetal promoted as Berkeley Group moved down. Moving up to join the housebuilder in the FTSE 250 were GVC Holdings and Hunting, as Pendragon was squeezed out.