The FTSE Small Caps Index closes flat, underperforming a 0.9 percent rise on the blue-chip FTSE 100 (FTSE: ^FTSE - news) index and a 1.3 percent advance on the FTSE 250 (FTSE: ^FTMC - news) mid-cap index.
Energy and mining group Sunkar Resources jumps up 18.8 percent after announcing a new contract in Kazakhstan, with an estimated value of 1.85 billion Kazakh tenge, or around $12 million at current exchange rates.
Sirius Petroleum surges 15.6 percent higher after announcing a new deal with miner Glencore. Under the terms of the agreement, Sirius has the right to deliver up to 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Glencore and will be entitled to draw-down funds for the development of its oil assets after satisfactory approval from the technical team of Glencore.
Reuters messaging rm://antonina.vorobyova.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
