UK small caps and junior-listed AIM shares rise 0.5-0.6percent, underperforming the mid-caps and the blue chips, up 0.9percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Shares in Smiths News Plc rise 7.7 percent as the largest newspaperand magazine distributor in Britain says it won two contract extensions with acombined value of more than 320 million pounds ($478 million).
It also reports a marginal increase in revenue for the 44 weeks to July 6,which included a contribution from its 2012 acquisition of The Consortium, adistributor of consumable supplies to the education.
"We consider this a reassuring update," analysts at N+1 Singer say. "Weconsider the sales decline at the Consortium somewhat disappointing but today'scontract renewals within News are clearly good news for the medium term."
Shares in blur Group rise 13.3 percent as the e-commerce group winsits largest contract to date at $3.6 million and says the total value ofprojects submitted in the second quarter more than trebled year on year.
Reuters messaging rm://francesco.canepa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
Smiths News (SNWS)