The FTSE Small Cap index and junior-listed AIM shares rise1.5 percent and 0.7 percent respectively, underperforming the mid-caps and the blue chips, up 2 percent and 1.7 percent.
Abcam, a supplier of protein research tools, falls 11.9 percentafter the company posts first-half results. Numis Securities notes that thenumbers are as expected, but exchange rate changes will impact forecasts for2015.
"Exchange rate changes have little effect on EBIT in FY2014 due to hedges,but in FY2015, the total impact of non-catalogueforecast changes and our new FX assumptions brings PBT (profit before tax) down8 percent," Numis says in a note.
Numis cuts its rating on Abcam to "hold" from "add".
Aggregates business Breedon Aggregates advances 3.2 percent to40.09 pence after the company's full-year results, which show a 29.5 percentrise in revenues to 224.5 million pounds ($375.3 million).
"Full-year results came in better than expected... Trading conditions lookrobust for the next couple of years andthe group can now refocus back on deals," Peel Hunt says in a note, lifting itstarget price for Breedon to 45 pence, from 39 pence.
Reuters messaging rm://tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net($1 = 0.5982 British pounds)
Breedon (BREE)
