UK small caps close down 0.4 percent, underperforming a rise of 0.2percent on the blue chips, but doing better than the mid-caps,which fall 0.7 percent.
BATM Advanced Communications gain 4.1 percent after reporting growthin both of its divisions and confirming that the company remains on track forrevenue and significant profit growth for full year 2013.
"This is a good Q1 report from BATM, indicating strong organic growth forboth the Telecoms and Medical divisions, as well as improved margins and a solidcash balance," analysts at finnCap said in a note.
"While it is too early in the year to look for an upgrade, these resultsgive us confidence the company will deliver the full year forecasts."
Avocet Mining sheds 9 percent as concerns about cash burn and a weakgold price outweigh broadly in-line first-quarter gold production at theWest-Africa-focused miner.
Reuters messaging rm://alistair.smout.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net