Beyond the Footsie: Friday close

SHARES in UK smaller companies ended strongly, boosted by a number of special situations and upbeat trading statements. At the close, the FTSE SmallCap index was 20.7 points higher at 2,580.7.

Troubled Premiership football club Leeds United was one of the best performers. The shares jumped 1.13p to 4.25p as it confirmed talks are continuing with the its principal finance creditors regarding extending a standstill deal beyond next Monday.

The statement from Leeds was prompted by reports that a member of the Bahrain royal family, was close to making an offer for the club. Leeds said it has not received any 'satisfactory evidence that funds exist to fulfil any proposal currently under discussion between him and the company'.

Lupus Capital rose response to news that former Tomkins chief Greg Hutchings has snapped up a stake in the company and has been appointed its chief executive. Lupus added 3.38p at 12.75p.

News of a $1.2m order from the US lifted Bond International Software 12p to 58 1/2p. London Bridge Software also moved 12 p higher to 68 1/2p in response to news that the company expects full-year pretax profits of around £4m, which is at the top end of market expectations.

And another bright spot was Focus Solutions, which gained 5 1/2p at 39 1/2p after news late yesterday that its chief executive, John Streets has lifted his stake in the financial software group to 29.36% - just below the threshold that would trigger a bid.

But on the downside, Universal Salvage shed almost 14% of its value after the group said it expects the second-half period to show 'only a small improvement' on the £1.6m pre-exceptional loss reported in the first half. The shares fell 15 1/2p to 96p.