Britain's small cap equity indexes rise in early session trade to outperformgains on the blue-chip index.
The FTSE Small Cap Index is up by 0.3 percent, while the FTSE AIMAll Share Index rises 0.4 percent, outperforming a 0.2 percent rise onthe blue-chip FTSE 100 index. The FTSE 250 mid-cap index, whichhit a record high earlier this month, also rises by 0.2 percent.
Mining company Metminco rises 27.3 percent after thecompany says work undertaken at its Los Calatos site shows increased productionrates.
Caza Oil & Gas also surges 20 percent higher after theenergy company announces positive results at its Caza Ridge Bone Spring well inNew Mexico.
Pawnbroking, payday loans and gold selling company H&T Group slumps12 percent after posting lower interim profits, with its earnings impacted by adrop in the price of gold.
"H1 results are significantly below our expectations," analysts at N+1Singer write in a research note, adding that they will be reviewing theirforecasts on the company.
Reuters messaging rm://sudip.kargupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net