The FTSE Small Cap index is down 0.2 percent early on, outperforming steeper fals by the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes, of 0.8 percent and 0.9 percent respectively.
Aquarius Platinum sheds 8.4 percent after the platinum miner's chief executive, Stuart Murray resigns with immediate effect, the company says on Monday, giving no reason for his departure.
"End of an era of the rumbustious Murray, whose presence and comments around the platinum sector will be missed, for whatever reason," Numis says in a note.
Explorers Aminex and Solo Oil add 5 perecnt and 6 percent respectively as they say they are seeking a partner to help pay for their hunt for oil and gas in Tanzania, a country attracting high interest from oil majors who see East Africa as a new hydrocarbon-producing region.
"We would expect completion of a farm-out deal to act as an important catalyst, and continue to calculate Risked net asset value of 20 pence per share (for Aminex) ... 1.4 pence per share (for Solo)," Shore Capital says in a note.
Reuters messaging rm://david.brett.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
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