The FTSE Small Cap index is 0.1 percent higher in midday trade,trailing blue chips, up 0.4 percent, and midcaps, which rise 0.7percent.
Akers Biosciences, a designer and manufacturer of rapid diagnosticscreening and testing products, jumps 11 percent as it says sales of its testfor heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), PIFA Heparin/PF4, have continued togrow strongly.
It also says that its proprietary disposable breath alcohol detectors willbe formally launched in the French market today by its partners.
Shares in blur Group rise 3.4 percent after the global servicesexchange announces the launch of Premium Account, a new function that allows itscustomers to handle multiple briefs and users from one dashboard.
"There is a significant global services market to tap into, which assumingcontinuing strong execution from the group, should drive further valuecreation," N+1 Singer says in a note.
Reuters messaging rm://tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
