F&C Asset Management was to be found in the upper rungs of the leader-board today after Credit Suisse upped the majority of its price targets for Europe's Diversified Financials. The sector has the highest 'gearing' to a rise in 10-year US Treasury yields, the Swiss broker's analysts explained.

Polymetal was tracking recent gains in the prices of precious metals. The technical aspect of its shares has improved somewhat of late, with the stock price building successively higher lows, surmised technical analysts at Sharecast. Nonetheless, for the moment it continues to trade below its 200-day moving average, they added.

Shares in Electra Private Equity rose on the news the investment trust had made its first acquisition of the year by snapping up a stake in footwear retailer Hotter Shoes. The deal value was not disclosed but Electra announced that it was investing £85m of its funds to acquire a majority stake.

Also higher was Amlin, which had been granted permission to offer insurance products in Germany and was planning to operate a branch from Hamburg. As part of its move, Amlin Europe appointed Martin Bircks as its Managing Director, who is joining the company from Zurich Insurance Group.

Shareholders in platinum producer Lonmin seemed unconcerned that the group had received a 48-hour notice from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) of its intention to strike.

Meanwhile, Bank of Georgia declined sharply, largely due to a poor set of fourth quarter results from Deutsche Bank, which revealed a pre-tax loss of €1.15bn after being hit by legal costs. Those were weighing on European banks across the continent. The shares were drifting lower towards their 50-day moving average.

Petra Diamonds declined ahead of the release of its latest figures on Thursday.


FTSE 250 - Risers
NMC Health (NMC) 500.50p +6.92%
Polymetal International (POLY) 564.50p +4.73%
F&C Asset Management (FCAM) 91.60p +4.45%
Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 205.20p +4.22%
Hunting (HTG) 784.50p +3.98%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 121.00p +3.95%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 1,616.00p +3.00%
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 18.91p +2.94%
Ted Baker (TED) 2,190.00p +2.82%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,794.00p +2.81%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 2,318.00p -2.97%
Kentz Corporation Ltd. (KENZ) 666.00p -2.84%
Alent (ALNT) 326.20p -2.04%
Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 122.00p -2.01%
FirstGroup (FGP) 138.40p -1.98%
Xaar (XAR) 1,020.00p -1.92%
ICAP (IAP) 443.70p -1.90%
Domino Printing Sciences (DNO) 834.50p -1.77%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 204.10p -1.69%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 183.80p -1.55%

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Related share prices
Electra Private Equity (ELTA) share price
Lonmin (LMI) share price
Amlin (AML) share price
F&C Asset Management (FCAM) share price
Kenmare Resources (KMR) share price
Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) share price
Polymetal International (POLY) share price
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) share price