Revealed – the region’s stock market successes of 2016

THE region’s largest listed companies endured a mixed time in 2016, mostly lagging behind the performance of the overseas-focused giants that dominate the FTSE 100.

Sterling’s weakness since the EU referendum last June has helped drive share prices higher. The FTSE 100 finished 2016 at a record high of 7,143, up 14.4% for the year.

The FTSE 250, which is much more domestic in focus, finished the year 2.7% higher, at 18,077. But the annual picture masks a lot of volatility, with the index gaining more than 20% since the aftermath of the Brexit vote, when it plunged to a year-low below 15,000.

The West Midlands’ 13 companies that started the year in the FTSE 350 collectively saw share price growth of 2.8% – although it rose to 5.3% once National Grid, which is valued at more than the other 12 put together, is taken out – compared with the index’s 12.5%.

The big winners were Hill & Smith, rising 58.4%, and HomeServe, which was up 49.9%.

The biggest faller was pub group Mitchells & Butlers, down 27.3% for the year and continuing a downward trend which is now 19 months old. In early December its shares hit a four-year low before staging a modest recovery.

Wolverhampton brewer Marston’s also struggled during the year, with its shares down 18.3%. Between them the two pub companies saw their market values fall by more than £550m in 2016.

National Grid: £35.69bn, +1.5%

Severn Trent: £5.23bn, +2.1%

IMI: £2.83bn, +20.7%

HomeServe: £1.91bn, +49.9%

National Express: £1.81bn, +6.3%

Dignity: £1.23bn, -3.3%

Paragon Group: £1.19bn, +17.3%

Mitchells & Butlers:£1.04bn, -27.3%

Carillion: £1.02bn, -22.1%

Hill & Smith: £940m, +58.4%

Marston’s: £780m, -18.3%

Halfords: £730m, -9.0%

St Modwen: £670m, -8.1%