The FTSE small cap index falls 0.2 percent, outperformingjunior-listed AIM shares, mid-caps and the blue chips all down between 0.8 percent and 0.9 percent.
Shares in Northgate rise 1.1 percent to 428.3 pence, featuring amongthe largest single contributors to the FTSE small cap index, as the lightcommercial vehicle hire firm unveils a 14 percent increase in underlying profitbefore tax for the six months to October.
"Overall, we see this as an encouraging set of figures," N+1 Singer says ina note. "We remain supportive of the investment case on recovery grounds, withboth core markets showing signs of improvement and remain at BUY with anunchanged 450 (pence target price)."
AIM-listed Albemarle & Bond sheds 15.8 percent to a new all-timelow as the pawnbroker puts itself up for sale, just days after warning it isexpected to make a loss for the first five months of the year.
Reuters messaging rm://francesco.canepa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net