The FTSE Small Cap index rises 0.1 percent in early session tradingto outperform declines of 0.2 percent on the blue-chip FTSE 100 index and on the FTSE 250 mid-cap index.
The junior-listed FTSE AIM All Share Index is down by 0.1 percent.
Shares in British mobile gaming company Probability surge 54percent after Italian rival GTECH says it has reached a deal to buyProbability for 17.5 million pounds in cash.
Gold exploration company Goldstone Resources slumps 19.6 percentafter the company says results at its Sangola site, where it has a joint venturewith Randgold Resources, do not justify an immediate follow-upprogramme.
Reuters messaging rm://sudip.kargupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net