STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-UK small caps close 1.6 percent higher

The FTSE Small Cap index .FTSC closes 1.6 percent higher, underperforming both the blue chips .FTSE and the midcaps .FTMC, which end up 2.6 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.

Accident claim handler Helphire (HHR.L) jumps almost 15 percent after it says its fleet utilisation improved in the fourth quarter and that it reduced its net debt, excluding fleet-related funding, at the end of the financial year.

IQE (IQE.L) rises 5.8 percent after the supplier of semiconductor wafer products says it expects its first half to be at least in line with the market view and the second half to remain positive, helped by growing smartphone sales.

Reuters Messaging rm://tricia.wright1.reuters.com@reuters.net