STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-UK small caps gain 1.1 percent midday

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12:04GMT 04March2009-UK small caps gain 1.1 percent midday

---------------------------------------------------------- The FTSE Small Cap index .FTSC gains 1.1 percent in midday trade, faring worse than both the blue chips .FTSE and the midcaps .FTMC, up 1.9 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.

Avis Europe (AVE.L) rises 19.7 percent after the car rental company says it expects to make further progress in 2009 following a round of cost cutting.

Stadium Group (SDMS.L) slides over 30 percent after the provider of electronic manufacturing services says in its full-year results statement that it has experienced a significant weakening of customer demand since the start of the year.

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

11:52GMT 04Mar2009-Int'l Personal Finance up; brokers positive

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Shares in International Personal Finance (IPF.L) gain 5.1 percent after the emerging markets consumer lender posts a 40 percent rise in full-year pretax profits, with brokers Numis and Teathers repeating their "buy" recommendations.

Teathers says the results are inline with its expectations, while Numis is bullish that the company's fundamentals will see it through a tough period despite IPF's sobering outlook.

Numis says it expects a 42 percent EPS growth through to 2011, citing steps taken by the company to tighten credit lines and the short-term nature of the duration of its loans as reasons to be optimistic over IPF's performance prospects.

"In addition we expect asset margin expansion and good quality customer growth to support increased profitability," the broker says in a note.

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