WINNERS & LOSERS: Defence stocks up; PPHE Hotel jumps on takeover bid

Thu, 28th May 2026 10:21

(Alliance News) - The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Thursday.

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FTSE 100 winners

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Babcock International Group PLC, up 1.9% at 1,084.50 pence, defence stocks rise as US-Iran ceasefire under pressure

BAE Systems PLC, up 1.6% at 1,997.25p, Mediobanca raises to 'outperform'

Compass Group PLC, up 1.3% at USD31.40

Vodafone Group PLC, up 1.0% at 112.28p

Melrose Industries PLC, up 0.9% at 475.75p, aerospace stocks up on heightened Middle East tensions

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FTSE 100 losers

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Autotrader Group PLC, down 3.9% at 427.30p

Kingfisher PLC, down 3.6% at 286.85p, goes ex-dividend

Fresnillo PLC, down 3.3% at 3,113.00p, miners fall as gold price sinks

JD Sports Fashion PLC, down 3.0% at 82.85p

BT Group PLC, down 2.9% at 210.70p

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FTSE 250 winners

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PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, up 25% at 2,007.50p, receives GBP930 million takeover proposal from Fattal Hotel

Metro Bank Holdings PLC, up 4.7% at 164.20p, RBC raises price target to 195p from 170p

Johnson Service Group PLC, up 3.0% at 153.15p

Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd, up 2.9% at 79.75p

Computacenter PLC, up 2.9% at 4,340.00p, makes 'earnings accretive' purchase of US firm Government Acquisitions

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FTSE 250 losers

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Hilton Food Group PLC, down 6.1% at 518.00p, goes ex-dividend

Breedon Group PLC, down 4.3% at 291.40p, goes ex-dividend

Vesuvius PLC, down 3.4% at 455.60p, goes ex-dividend and maintains guidance

Aston Martin Lagona Global Holdings PLC, down 3.3% at 46.83p

Ocado Group PLC, down 3.1% at 202.80p

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FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:

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Babcock International Group PLC, up 1.9% at 1,084.50 pence, 12-month range 916.50p-1,527.00p. The London-based aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering services company climbs, along with other defence stocks, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. The fresh fighting appeared to begin when Iranian forces fired at four ships attempting to cross the Strait, state broadcaster IRIB reports. US forces launched strikes that hit a ground control station in the southern port area of Bandar Abbas, a US official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP, prompting a swift response by Iran.

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Kingfisher PLC, down 3.6% at 286.85p, 12-month range 240.30p-372.30p. The London-based home improvement products retailer goes ex-dividend, meaning new shareholders do not qualify for the final dividend of 8.6p per share, to be paid on July 3.

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PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, up 25% at 2,007.50p, 12-month range 1,262.00p-2,090.00p. Fattal Hotel confirms it has proposed to buy PPHE Hotel, and says it is in talks with the PPHE board with the aim of making a firm offer within the next four weeks. PPHE on Wednesday said that it had received an offer of GBP22 per share from Fattal that values PPHE at GBP930 million in total. PPHE on Wednesday said it believes Fattal's offer represents "fair value", and that it intends to engage with major shareholders to assess the proposal, though it stressed that no firm offer had been made.

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Computacenter PLC, up 2.9% at 4,340.00p, 12-month range 2,092.00p-4,368.00p. The Hatfield, England-based technology services provider buys Government Acquisitions Inc, a value-added reseller focused on the US federal government market, for an enterprise value of up to USD92 million. Cincinnati, Ohio-based GAI is an IT solutions partner for federal agencies. Completion will result in an initial cash payment of USD63 million, with further potential performance-based payments through to the end of 2027 of up to USD29 million.

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Vesuvius PLC, down 3.4% at 455.60p, 12-month range 322.53p-507.50p. The specialist in molten metal flow engineering goes ex-dividend, meaning new buyers will not qualify for the final 16.5p payout. The firm also says steel production outside China, Ukraine, Russia and Iran rises by 2.5% in the first quarter. "Foundry markets remained soft across most regions; however, performance was supported by stronger demand in China and India and continued pricing discipline. In contrast to steel, end markets are expected to remain broadly stable over the remainder of the year," it adds. The company says its expectations for the full year are unchanged. It expects a stronger second half compared to the first half, and is "mindful" of geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the Middle East.

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By Michael Hennessey, Alliance News reporter

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