STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-UK small caps close XXXX

The FTSE Small Caps Index closes flat and the junior-listed FTSE AIM All Share Index ends 0.3 percent higher, with the blue-chip FTSE 100 index down 0.2 percent and mid-cap index falling 0.1 percent.

Snoozebox (LSE: ZZZ.L - news) rises 11.8 percent after stating in a trading update that the company's performance has improved and that it expects to see higher revenues in 2013.

"A clear strategy has now been developed to build the business and capitalise on demand," Panmure Gordon analysts write in a research note.

Beowulf Mining (LSE: BEM.L - news) advances 4.8 percent after the company shows signs of progress with its projects by reporting that drilling will start this month at the Ballek copper and gold site in Sweden.

Asia-focused investment trusts fall as they bear the brunt of drops overnight on the Chinese and Japanese stock markets.

Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust declines by 2.8 percent, JP Morgan Chinese IT Closed Fund falls 2.8 percent and Invesco Asia Trust closes down 0.5 percent.

Reuters messaging rm://sudip.kargupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net