The FTSE Small Cap index and junior-listed AIM shares closeup 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, lagging the FTSE mid caps,which end up 0.5 percent.
British chocolatier Thorntons rises 2.3 percent ahead of its resultson Sept. 11, with brokers remaining positive about its outlook.
"We believe that the group can drive sales through a number of channels andthat its profits will further benefit from a reduced cost base. We reiterate our'buy' recommendation and 100 pence Target Price, implying (around) 28 percentpotential upside," Panmure says in a note.
Reuters messaging rm://atul.prakash.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net