UK small caps rise 0.2 percent, outperforming the junior-listed AIMshares, which are flat, and the blue chips, which are down 0.3percent.
Lamprell gains 2.1 percent after it is awarded a major rigrefurbishment contract by the Millenium Offshore Services group, valued atapproximately $64 million.
Songbird Estates rises 1.5 percent after saying its portfoliovaluation rose 2.6 percent over the first half, posting a profit for the periodof 82.3 million pounds ($130.24 million).
Reuters messaging rm://alistair.smout.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net