The FTSE small cap index rises 0.3 percent while the junior-listedFTSE AIM All Share Index gains 0.1 percent, roughly tracking a 0.3percent advance on the blue-chip FTSE 100 blue-chip and FTSE 250 mid-cap indexes.
Speciality chemicals manufacturer Graphene NanoChem rises 1.3percent after the company says it will be expanding its Senawang chemicalfacility.
"The completion of the Senawang upgrade project is an important event forGraphene NanoChem," Panmure Gordon analysts write in a research note, keeping a"buy" rating on the stock.
"The improvements in operational efficiencies are key to reducing theoverall operating costs at the facility, and underpinning future marginimprovements," they add.
Stratex International rises 3 percent after the mining explorationcompany reports positive results from its Dalafin site.
Uranium exploration company URU Metals slumps 11.8 percent after itschief executive resigns.
Reuters messaging rm://sudip.kargupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
Uru Metals (URU)