STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-UK small caps rise to outpace blue-chips

The FTSE Small Caps Index rises 0.2 percent in early trading, outperforming a 0.2 percent fall on the blue-chip FTSE 100 index and a flat performance on the FTSE 250 mid-cap index.

The junior-listed FTSE AIM All Share Index slips 0.1 percent.

Trinity Exploration, an energy company focused on Trinidad and Tobago, advances by 2.9 percent to 115.25 pence after Investec (LSE: INVP.L - news) starts its coverage of the stock with a "buy" rating and a 250 pence price target.

"We believe Trinity is strongly positioned to take advantage of Trinidad and Tobago's attractive regional fundamentals, which include an established and mature industry, low geological and geopolitical risk relative to the sector, a low level of secondary recovery utilisation, a progressive tax regime that has proven responsive to mature field incentives, and new licencing rounds," Investec writes in a research note.

Pure Wafer (LSE: PUR.L - news) , a company that provides silicon wafer reclaim services for semiconductor companies, rises 4.2 percent after posting higher interim profits.

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