Website Trustpilot was the biggest faller on the FTSE 250 index as investors expressed concern over the outlook.

Set up in 2007 to provide a platform for users to post reviews about businesses and shop around for the best deals, it had a strong first half – revenues look to have soared 17 per cent to £77million in the six months to the end of June.

Trustpilot expects sales to rise around 15 per cent across the whole of 2024 but shares sank 5.5 per cent, or 13p, to 222.5p. 

The sell-off overshadowed an otherwise upbeat performance, with group bookings forecast to have risen 19 per cent to £91million in the first half.

The FTSE 100 rose 0.36 per cent, or 29.83 points, to 8223.34 and the FTSE 250 was up 1.25 per cent, or 261.15 points, to 21,188.91.

Traders were treated to encouraging data on both sides of the Atlantic after the UK economy grew in May while US inflation fell more than expected in June.

In London, AIM-listed Crimson Tide lost a third of its value, falling 33.3 per cent, or 90p, to 270p, after its suitor decided to walk away from a formal bid.

Software firm Ideagen, which last month approached the process management app company over a 312p-a-share offer, exited after the data tracking platform Checkit withdrew its takeover interest three weeks ago.

Construction group Galliford Try – up 8.8 per cent, or 24p, to 296p – said annual revenues and profit should beat the top end of market forecasts.

It expects results for the year to June 30 to be above the £1.64billion of revenue and £29.2million of profit pencilled in by analysts. The company has secured £101million of public sector building projects.

Stock Watch - Totally

Healthcare provider Totally has secured £11million worth of contract extensions.

It won three elective care deals valued at around £8million to reduce waiting lists for areas such as gynaecology and ophthalmology, and extended another three contracts worth £3.5million to support urgent care work including GP out of hours services in the North East.

Most of the extensions were in review over the election period. Shares gained 10.3 per cent, or 0.75p, to 8p.

Hays did its best to defy the doom and gloom that has engulfed the recruitment industry this week. 

While fees fell 15 per cent in the fourth quarter to the end of June, it still expects annual profits to meet market forecasts, albeit at the bottom end of the £106million to £113million range pencilled in.

It suggested this could have been lower had it not saved £60million across the financial year. 

Earlier this week Page Group issued its second profit warning of this year as confidence remained low between clients and candidates.

Hays rose 5 per cent, or 4.45p, to 94.15p. Takeover target John Wood dipped 1.3 per cent, or 2.6p, to 204.6p after revenues fell 6 per cent to £2.2billion in the first half of 2024 due to its strategic shift away from engineering, procurement and construction work. 

It is still waiting to see whether Dubai-based Sidara will make a formal offer.

Bytes Technology reported a decent start to the year in a ‘competitive market environment’ – but the IT firm dropped 6.1 per cent, or 32p, to 492p.

RS Group rose 9.7 per cent, or 69.5p, to 790p after the electronics distributor pointed towards green shoots of recovery. While revenues fell 3pc in the first quarter to the end of June, the pace of decline continues to slow, as anticipated.

Warehouse landlord London Metric sold five properties for £27million, and has sold almost £100million of assets since the end of March, and rose 1.6 per cent, or 3.2p, to 199.6p.