Junior oil stocks were in favour on Tuesday and small cap indices were ahead of Footsie.
As news of terror attacks in Brussels was emerging, the FTSE AIM 100 was up0.3% at 3,319 at the time of writing, while FTSE AIM All-share was 0.20% ahead at 707.400.
Leading the small cap pack was Gulfsands Petroleum (LON:GPX), up over 56% to 12.13p as it said noted the recent increase in the share price but knew of no reason.
Tethys (LON:TYS) added 20% to 3p a pop as the Kazakhstan oil junior confirmed the conversion of debt into equity by its funding partner Oilsol Petroleum.
The conversion is an interim step in a broader funding package agreed recently between the companies.
Also up was South America focused President Energy (LON:PPC) which shot up over 14% to stand at 8p each.
Meanwhile, FTSE 100 is down around 26 at 6,157 at the time of writing..
Travel shares were taking a hit after explosions were reported in Brussels airport and tube network, IAG (LON:IAG), the airline group dropped 2.42% to 544,5p; Thomas Cook (LON:TCG) fell over 4% at 88.5p, while Stagecoach (LON:SGC) fell 1.83% to 252.3p and EasyJet (LON:EZJ) flew 1.07% lower.
Xeros Technology Group PLC (LON:XSG) was up 11.11% at 220p as the market cheered its interim results
The developer of patented polymer bead systems used in a revolutionary laundry system boasted of progress on all fronts. Earned income increased to £744,000 in the five months to the end of 2015 from £95,000 the year before. The group is in the process of changing its financial year-end date, hence the five-month reporting period.
e-Therapeutics PLC (LON:ETX) revealed it is targeting partners to accelerate the development of its drug discovery engine.
The update came as the firm unveiled results for the full year to end January, a period in which it said the platform continued to exceed expectations by generating high quality compounds.
Investors chased the shares over 9% higher at 13.5p.
Seeing Machines (LON:SEE) was unchanged at 4.875p as it completed a £6.7mln stock placing at a premium to the existing price that has brought in a new strategic investor.
Malaysia’s V S Industry (VSI) subscribed for shares at 5.199p each, 20% higher than the 30-day weighted price of the stock.
Manufacturer VSI, which will appoint Yong Kang (YK) Ng to the Seeing Machines board, has a number of high profile customers, including posh vacuum maker Dyson.