As Comet-owner Kesa plummeted into the bottom spot on further news of on-going struggles, shares in rival company Dixons soared into pole position.

Soon-to-be disposed Comet, which is no longer classed as a continuing group operation for Kesa, saw third quarter sales drop by 15% and by 14.5% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis, as poor trading in the peak period between Boxing Day and the New Year offset an improving trend pre-Christmas.

While the disposal is expected to complete in two weeks' time, Kesa has revealed that given the division's performance, net debt will exceed the agreed net debt threshold by up to £10-15m.

Talvivaara, the Finland focused nickel and zinc miner, was on the rise after being notified this morning of a 'positive opinion' by the European Commission on its uranium recovery processes, which in effect certifies that the company meets the mandated safeguards for supply security of nuclear fuel.

After initially rising, Investment firm Aberdeen Asset Management was a heavy faller after net outflow of funds was £2.8bn, higher than the third quarter's outflows of £1.7bn.

High street betting shop chain William Hill was in demand after saying it expects full-year net revenue to be 6% higher in the 52 weeks ended December 27th, helped by online sales which jumped 28% year-on-year.



FTSE 250 - Risers
Dixons Retail (DXNS) 13.52p +14.00%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 190.10p +13.97%
Perform Group (PER) 260.00p +8.97%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 101.30p +8.57%
Yule Catto & Co (YULC) 193.30p +8.41%
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 49.83p +8.07%
William Hill (WMH) 225.80p +7.68%
Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 362.00p +6.78%
Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 1,199.00p +6.77%
Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) (GEMD) 204.20p +5.97%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Kesa Electricals (KESA) 74.65p -4.17%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 223.80p -2.65%
Fenner (FENR) 450.70p -2.45%
Interserve (IRV) 312.50p -2.31%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 123.60p -1.75%
Kentz Corporation Ltd. (KENZ) 456.40p -1.64%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 287.30p -1.27%
FirstGroup (FGP) 304.80p -1.04%
Mitie Group (MTO) 265.30p -1.04%
Booker Group (BOK) 73.60p -0.88%

NR

Related share prices
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) share price
William Hill (WMH) share price
Kesa Electricals (KESA) share price
Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) share price
Dixons Retail (DXNS) share price