The FTSE Small Caps index closes 0.1 percent lower, in line with themid-caps, while the blue-chips fall 0.2 percent.
Brammer sheds 3.4 percent as a Jefferies International downgrade to"hold" from "buy" attracts profit-taking in the engineering group's stock, whichhas risen 38 percent since early November.
"We believe that Brammer performed very admirably in FY12, against ahorrific macro-economic backdrop. ... Going into FY13, we believe that Brammeris well positioned for long-term growth, however without an upgrade, thevaluation is 'up with events'," Jefferies says in a note raising its targetprice for Brammer to 340 pence from 295 pence.
Tarsus Group gains 1.4 percent as the media group agrees to acquire51 percent of Indonesian exhibition organiser, PT Infrastructure Asia, for aninitial $500,000 in cash.
"We are positive on this deal and note the prospective price... asattractive in the EM (emerging market) trade exhibitions sector," N+1 Singersays in a note retaining a "hold" rating and 183 pence target price on Tarsus.
Reuters messaging rm://francesco.canepa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net