FTSE 250 movers: Hays, easyJet surge; Johnson slumps

(Sharecast News) - FTSE 250 (MCX) 23,326.91 0.37%





EasyJet shares surged after a bidding war emerged on Friday for the low-cost carrier when it accepted a £5.7bn deal from private equity firm Apollo, trumping an earlier proposal by Castlelake.

Recruiter Hays said it expected full-year earnings to be at the top end of consensus as the pace of decline in fee income slowed in the fourth quarter, sending shares in the company up 15%.

Textile services provider Johnson Service Group said on Friday that it still expects to deliver "another year of progress" in FY26, despite a drop in first‑half hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) revenues, as margin improvement and cost discipline continue to support performance.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Hays (HAS) 41.30p 15.69% easyJet (EZJ) 675.60p 15.06% AEP Plantations (AEP) 169.00p 4.32% Workspace Group (WKP) 343.20p 3.50% Playtech (PTEC) 381.20p 3.25% WPP (WPP) 265.40p 2.59% Baltic Classifieds Group (BCG) 183.20p 2.46% Trustpilot Group (TRST) 272.00p 2.33% Victrex plc (VCT) 682.00p 2.25% RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI) (RHIM) 2,790.00p 2.20%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Johnson Service Group (JSG) 137.70p -16.79% Avon Technologies (AVON) 1,658.00p -3.38% Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 709.00p -2.88% QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 452.60p -2.71% Chemring Group (CHG) 530.00p -2.58% Genus (GNS) 2,026.00p -2.22% Morgan Sindall Group (MGNS) 4,804.00p -1.96% Vistry Group (VTY) 238.80p -1.80% Premier Foods (PFD) 198.20p -1.69% Zigup (ZIG) 457.00p -1.51%