Beyond the Footsie: Tuesday close
SMALLER company shares followed the broader market lower, knocked by a worse-than-expected plunge in US consumer confidence. The FTSE SmallCap index shed 38.4 points at 2318.6, just off its lows for the day.
Bullough, the management and heating systems firm, slipped in late trade after it warned its predicted second-half recovery was now 'less likely to happen' following the US terrorist attacks. The stock fell 3 1/2p to 18p.
Maiden full-year results from web minnow Totalise and wireless communications firm Cybit failed to impress investors, with Totalise shares down 2 1/4p at 4 3/4p, while Cybit fell 1/4p to 1 1/2p. Irish internet security firm Baltimore Technologies fell 1 1/4p to 18p despite news of boardroom pay cuts.
Northern Petroleum gained late in the day, ahead 1/2p to 3 1/4p on an upbeat update of one of its wells in Ireland's Seven Heads gas field. Solid results buoyed support services firm Airow, ahead 1 1/2p at 11 1/2p, and vehicle tracking devices company Minorplanet Systems, 13p ahead at 274p.
Auto Indemnity, the car crash specialist, rose 1 1/4p to 15 1/4p on news of director share-buying. Diagnostics company Medisys gained 5 1/2p to 61p after Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein started coverage of the stock with a 'buy' rating.
Smaller companies spotlight
