UK small caps closes 0.8 percent higher,outperforming the wider market, with the mid-caps up 0.5percent, and the blue chips 0.1 percent weaker.
Financial services organisation Earthport rallies 13percent after an agreement with American Express toexpand its existing foreign exchange international paymentservice with a launch expected in late 2013.
"We think this further validates (Earthport's) positioningwithin its segment of the payment space, and should ultimatelyhelp drive adoption rates with other potential customers furtherdown the line," says Panmure Gordon, which repeats its "buy"rating but raises its target price to 32 pence.
"We are not changing our forecasts on the basis that timingis always difficult to measure, but do think this is anothercustomer capable of covering the entire cost base of thebusiness further down the line."
CPP Group falls 7.3 percent on reports it is intalks on a financial restructuring that could see its lendersswap their debt for a significant stake in the British creditcard insurer following a multi-million pound regulatory fine,according to Sky News.
Reuters messagingrm://david.brett.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net