WINNERS & LOSERS: Whitbread shareholder calls for sale of firm

Mon, 18th May 2026 09:39

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

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FTSE 100 winners

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British American Tobacco PLC, up 1.9% at 4,958 pence, stocks in sectors seen as defensive rise amid risk aversion

IG Group Holdings PLC, up 1.9% at 1,562p

Imperial Brands PLC, up 1.9% at 2,870p

Bunzl PLC, up 1.6% at 2,369p

National Grid PLC, up 1.5% at 1,206p, utilities trade higher in cautious trade

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FTSE 100 losers

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3i Group PLC, down 4.8% at 2,103p, rose 4.6% on Friday, but slumped 13% on Thursday

Persimmon PLC, down 2.5% at 1,020p, housebuilders struggle on inflation worry

Mondi PLC, down 2.4% at 733.1p

Barratt Redrow PLC, down 2.3% at 238.05p

Anglo American PLC, down 2.2% at 3,750p, tepid China data hits miners

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FTSE 250 winners

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Ceres Power Holdings PLC, up 3.5% at 760.5p

Ocado Group PLC, up 3.1% at 192.75p

THG PLC, up 2.6% at 32.29p

Harbour Energy PLC, up 2.1% at 301.5p, tracks oil higher

Trustpilot Group PLC, up 2.0% at 244.9p

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FTSE 250 losers

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Vistry Group PLC, down 5.8% at 261.8p, worst performer on index as inflation fear hits housebuilders

Kainos Group PLC, down 3.6% at 784.75p, annual earnings rise

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC, down 3.3% at 47.99p

easyJet PLC, down 3.1% at 333.7p, travel stocks fall on way worry, results from peer

Playtech PLC, down 2.9% at 349.3p

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FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:

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Vistry Group PLC, down 5.8% at 261.8p, 12-month range 260.40p-746.40p. The conflict worry intensifies inflation fear and the prospect of central bank rate hikes, which could hit housing market activity.

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Kainos Group PLC, down 3.6% at 784.75p, 12-month range 680.50p-1,190.00p. Kainos says it is well placed for further progress in the year ahead as it reported increased annual profit on the back of higher sales. The London-based Workday partner and provider of IT services to public sector, commercial, and healthcare customers says pretax profit increased 19% to GBP58.1 million in the financial year to March 31 from GBP48.6 million the year prior. Revenue was 17% higher at GBP431.1 million from GBP367.2 million.

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easyJet PLC, down 3.1% at 333.7p, 12-month range 333.40p-590.60p. easyJet falls in a negative read across as peer Ryanair Holdings PLC falls 3.4% in Dublin. Dublin-based budget carrier Ryanair posts a sharp rise in annual profit but warns it is too early to provide profit guidance for the new year, as the conflict in the Middle East has clouded its outlook.

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Anglo American, down 2.2% at 3,750p, 12-month range 1,987.20p-4,118.50p. Retail sales and industrial production data from China are shy of consensus, hitting mining shares. China is a major buyer of minerals. In addition, Anglo says it has found a new buyer for a steelmaking coal portfolio. It has struck a deal to sell its portfolio of steelmaking coal mines in Australia to Dhilmar for up to USD3.88 billion in cash. Dhilmar will pay the miner USD2.3 billion upfront, and the deal has a price-linked earnout of up to USD1.58 billion.

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BP PLC, up 1.3% at 559.20 pence, 12-month range 351.20p-609.40p. Brent tops USD111 a barrel, after ending last week around USD109. President Donald Trump threatened "there won't be anything left" of Iran if no peace deal is reached, as their truce came under further strain with drone attacks on US allies in the Gulf. "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Sunday. "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!"

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Whitbread PLC, up 1.0%, at 2,326.00p, 12-month range 2,098.00p-3,302.00p. Corvex Management, which owns around 7% of Whitbread, calls for a sale of the hotel firm. "It is our conviction that the only credible path to unlocking that value is a sale of the company. Accordingly, it is imperative that the board immediately retains an independent investment bank and makes a public commitment to conduct a rigorous and comprehensive sale process, with the objective of maximizing value for all shareholders," Corvex says. "It is clear to us that as a board and management team, you have failed to act with the urgency and adaptability Whitbread shareholders – the true owners of the company – deserve."

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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor

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