UK small caps and junior-listed AIM shares rise 0.2 and 0.1percent respectively, reflecting the performance of larger peers with the bluechips 0.1 percent higher and the mid caps up 0.3 percent.
Sable Mining Africa, the AIM listed exploration company, rallies4.5 percent after announcing encouraging results from the company's recentlycompleted expansion exploration programme at the Nimba Iron Ore Project insouth-east Guinea.
Premier Foods, the UK's largest food producer, dips 7.8 percentafter surprising investors by announcing the departure of chief financialofficer Mark Moran, who will be replaced by Alastair Murray with effect fromSept. 30, 2013.
Shore Capital, however, says it does not believe that Moran's resignation isa sign of anything untoward and gives a positive assessment on his replacement.
"Mr Murray has considerable experience in this space, particularly with theeffective management of pension responsibilities and debt management at DairyCrest and so represents a good replacement to our minds," the broker says.
Reuters messaging rm://david.brett.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net