STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-UK small caps gain 0.2 pct midday

The FTSE Small Cap index .FTSC gains 0.2 percent in midday trade, while the midcaps .FTMC add 0.7 percent, but the blue chips .FTSE shed 0.1 percent.

Arcontech (ARC.L) jumps 20 percent after the provider of enterprise real-time software solutions to the investment banking and broking sectors announces a new contract win for its CityVision market data distribution products, with Hoodless Brennan repeating its "speculative buy" rating on the stock.

RPC (RPC.L) rises 4.8 percent after lower costs mitigate volume declines in the first half, helping the plastic packaging supplier swing to a net profit from a loss a year ago. [ID:nGEE5AQ12S]

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