Beyond the Footsie: Tuesday close
UK smaller companies closed just off their session highs, as a scattering of upbeat trading statements and results news boosted sentiment, said dealers.
By the close, the FTSE Small-Cap index was up 8.6 points at 2,459.7, just below its session high of 2,460.6, while the FTSE 100 index was 19.8 points higher at 4,379.6.
Earthport remained sharply higher, ending with a gain of 0.50p to 2.87 after the company revealed that its gaming subsidiary, ensurePay, had won nine contracts over the past three months.
Mano River Resources shares added 0.87p to 6.87p on speculation that a recent placing in the group was oversubscribed.
Comments in the Daily Mail that the group is ?high risk, but has gold and diamonds worth about 37p a share‘ also boosted sentiment.
Mayborn Group was up 23 1/2p to 223 1/2p, after the household products company said results for the year ending December will be ahead of expectations. It said that turnover in the second half of the year to 31 December is running 30% ahead of last year.
Buyers were also nibbling at Triad Group, up 5p at 60p, after news of narrowing interim losses, although the IT services market remains challenging.
Pre-tax losses for the six months to 30 September were £850,000 down from a £2.53m deficit in the previous year.
Independent Media shares gained 5 1/2p to 66p after the company said it expects that profits for the year will exceed expectations. Turnover in the second half of the year to 31 December is running 30% ahead of last year.
Shares in First Technology were up 24p to 316 1/2p after the company said it expects a stronger second half in the wake of interim profits of £114,000, slightly down from last year's £124,000.
NMT tumbled 0.74p to 1.01 following the announcement that it will cease manufacture at its production facility in Livingston, Scotland with immediate effect.
Tadpole Technology eased 0.75p to 10.25p despite narrowing full-year losses and seeing a further improvement in trading next year.
Shares in Phytopharm also slipped, down 22 1/2p to 212 1/2p, as investors moved to take profits as they digested the group's full year results.
House broker Nomura, however, reiterated its 'buy' advice on the stock.
MyTravel extended its recent falls, sliding 3/4p to 9 1/4p, following the resignation of two of its directors. Bill McGrorty, aviation director, and Bill Allen, overseas purchasing director, left days after chief executive Duncan Wilson quit.
ServicePower fell 4 1/2p to 35 1/2p after it warned that its full-year revenue will come in lower than expectations despite announcing a contract win which could be the largest in the company's history.
