The FTSE Small Cap index climbs 0.3 percent to hit afresh all-time high, with the mid-caps also ahead by 0.3percent, while junior-listed AIM shares are 0.2 percentfirmer.
Lookers climbs 3.1 percent after becoming thelatest British car dealer to forecast better-than-expected 2013profits on the back of resurgent car sales in its home market.
Peer Pendragon, which forecast strong profit growthearlier this week, advances 4 percent.
Aquarius Platinum firms 4.9 percent as Goldman Sachsupgrades its recommendation on the platinum producer to"neutral" from "sell" following a recent underperformance.
Aquarius shares, since being added to the investment bank's'Sell' list on March 15, have fallen 21 percent against a riseof some 14 percent on the FTSE Small Cap index over the period.
Goldman, however, writes in a note: "Aquarius recentlyreleased its 1Q14 results which were weak owing to ongoingweakness in PGM (platinum group metal) prices. Given the lack ofgrowth and the weak PGM pricing environment which we believewill persist, we don't see a compelling investment case for thestock."
Reuters messagingrm://tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net