LONDON (ShareCast) – Ocado was rising strongly ahead of its trading update on Thursday, when the group is expected to post a robust set of figures for the Christmas period. The internet grocer is expected to have benefitted from the trend that has seen retailers move their shopping habits online.

The share price of department store Debenhams (Other OTC: DBHSY – news) advanced after High Street peer Sports Direct (Frankfurt: A0MK5S – news) bought a 4.6% stake in the company, saying that it is exploring options for the retailers to work together.

Pubs, restaurants and hotels business Greene King (Other OTC: GKNGY – news) climbed after it said trading over the key Christmas and New Year period has been very strong and it remained confident of continued momentum. Retail like-for-like LFL sales rose 5% in the last six weeks and 3.8% year-to-date. Average earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) per pub in Pub Partners rose 5.6%.

Meanwhile, veterinary pharmaceuticals group Dechra Pharmaceuticals (LSE: DPH.L – news) disappointed despite revenue improving around four per cent compared to the same period last year after a resilient performance in key European markets. The group said operating profit is expected to be in line with management expectations despite an under-performance in the Netherlands and the impact of phasing of export orders.

FTSE 250 – Risers
CSR (Frankfurt: GQY.F – news) (CSR (LSE: CSR.L – news) ) 673.50p +6.48%
Ocado Group (Other OTC: OCDGF – news) (OCDO) 545.00p +5.72%
Debenhams (Frankfurt: D2T.F – news) (DEB) 85.80p +5.21%
Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 176.20p +4.38%
KCOM Group (LSE: KCOM.L – news) (KCOM) 99.80p +4.23%
UBM (UBM (LSE: UBM.L – news) ) 707.00p +3.51%
Homeserve (HSV) 292.20p +3.43%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 116.00p +3.29%
Merlin Entertainments (Other OTC: MIINY – news) (MERL) 377.90p +2.89%
Man Group (Other OTC: MNGPF – news) (EMG) 89.30p +2.82%

FTSE 250 – Fallers
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 715.50p -2.72%
Interserve (Frankfurt: I5S.F – news) (IRV) 673.00p -2.39%
Hiscox Ltd (HSX) 634.00p -1.78%
BH Global Ltd. USD Shares (BHGU) 11.6 -1.69%
Beazley (BEZ) 275.70p -1.54%
Cobham (COB) 289.10p -1.50%
Senior (SNR) 308.40p -1.34%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 2,691.00p -1.32%
Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 581.00p -1.27%
COLT Group SA (COLT) 126.70p -1.25%

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