FTSE 250 movers: Centamin surges on strong dividend, energy stocks higher

LONDON (ShareCast) - Profits at gold miner Centamin (Toronto: CEE.TO - news) more than halved in 2014, as higher production was offset by increased output costs and lower commodity prices, yet the stock surged after the company's maiden dividend smashed analysts' expectations on the back of stronger cash generation. Other miners were also trading higher, including Vedanta Resources (Other OTC: VDNRF - news) , as well as energy stocks Hunting , Cairn Energy (LSE: CNE.L - news) and Petrofac .

Firstgroup (LSE: FGP.L - news) jumped after making a deal with the Department for Transport to operate the First Great Western rail franchise until 1 April, 2019.

Balfour Beatty (Other OTC: BAFBF - news) was trading lower as Swiss energy provider Alpiq acquired its Itlaian electricifcation subsidiary, Balfour Beatty Rail. A spokesperson from Alpiq said: "With this acquisition, Alpiq expands its transport technology business geographically and gains strong and comprehensive know-how in the sectors of railway and mass transit electrification as well as first-class technology and resources." Thomas Cook (Xetra: A0MR3W - news) was also trading lower on speculation surrounding the acquisition of Centre Parcs. Guo Guangchang, the boss of conglomerate Fosun which has taken a 5% stake in Thomas Cook and also bought Club Med (Paris: FR0000121568 - news) last month, is believed to be preparing to battle it out with Chinese property mogul Wang Jianli for the UK parks group. Risers Centamin (DI (KSE: 003160.KS - news) ) (CEY) 61.65p +14.70% Vedanta Resources (VED) 556.00p +5.90% Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 978.50p +4.54% Serco Group (Other OTC: SECCF - news) (SRP) 187.40p +4.11% Entertainment One Limited (Other OTC: ENTMF - news) (ETO) 315.70p +3.34% FirstGroup (FGP (BSE: FGP.BO - news) ) 98.20p +3.31% Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 395.00p +3.13% Soco International (LSE: SIA.L - news) (SIA (SES: E1:C6L.SI - news) ) 172.70p +2.98% Cairn Energy (CNE) 162.20p +2.72% Hunting (HTG) 499.60p +2.46% Fallers Hellermanntyton Group (LSE: HTY.L - news) (HTY) 343.10p -4.88% Balfour Beatty (BBY) 225.90p -3.87% Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 141.10p -3.09% Ocado Group (Other OTC: OCDGF - news) (OCDO) 363.70p -2.68% Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 217.10p -2.43% Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 351.30p -2.04% Dechra Pharmaceuticals (LSE: DPH.L - news) (DPH) 1,012.00p -2.03% Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 85.85p -2.00% Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 432.70p -1.99% Saga (SAGA (LSE: SAGA.L - news) ) 178.00p -1.93%