Revealed – the region’s stock market winners and losers in 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.

Yorkshire’s nine companies that started the year in the FTSE 350 collectively saw share price growth of 1.5%, compared with the index’s 12.5%.

However there were major differences in performance with only three of the nine enjoying an increase. Morrisons was up 55.7% to reach its highest point since March 2014, while Drax reversed its 2015 performance to add 54.6% and return to its early 2015 levels. Croda was also up slightly, by 1.4%.

The region’s largest listed company, Persimmon, lost 12.4% and is in danger of relinquishing that particular label to Morrisons. Provident Financial, which began the year in the FTSE 100, lost 15.4%  despite recovering from its post-Brexit slump.

The region’s biggest losers were furniture group DFS, which dropped out of the FTSE 250, ending the year down 31.7%, and retailer Card Factory, which was down 30.7%.

Company; Market cap; 2016 change

Persimmon: £5.48bn, -12.4%
Morrisons: £5.40bn, +55.7%
Croda International: £4.34bn, +1.4%
Provident Financial: £4.21bn, -15.4%
Drax: £1.54bn, +54.6%
Cranswick: £1.17bn, +22.2%
Card Factory: £860m, -30.7%
SIG: £610m, -28.1%
DFS: £480m, -31.7%

(CYBG, which floated in February, ended the year up 49.4% with a market cap of £820m.)