The FTSE Small Caps and junior-listed FTSE AIM All Share Index both rise by 0.2 percent, underperforming a 0.6 percent rise on theblue-chip FTSE 100 index a 0.5 percent gain on the mid-cap FTSE 250index.
Cross-border payments company Earthport rises 1.3 percent to 39pence as brokerage Panmure Gordon increases its price target on the stock to 52pence from 34 pence.
"We believe 2014 will be another year of significant progress for thecompany and therefore re-iterate our 'buy' recommendation on the shares,"Panmure writes in a research note.
Hilton Food Group gains 2.3 percent after reporting in a tradingupdate that it remains well-placed to deliver more growth over the medium-term.
Gulfsands Petroleum falls 6.9 percent to 44 pence after reportingpoor results from a Morocco well, which prompts Cantor Fitzgerald to cut itsprice target on the stock to 72 pence from 162 pence.
Reuters messaging rm://sudip.kargupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net