STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-UK small caps close 0.6 percent lower

The FTSE Small Cap index .FTSC closes 0.6 percent lower, faring better than the midcaps .FTMC, which end down 1.2 percent, while the blue chips .FTSE close 0.3 percent firmer.

Animal genetics company Genus (GENS.L) ends the session 3.1 percent lower as the swine flu outbreak raises concerns over the price of pork and worries over restrictions on pig transportation.

Sausage skin maker Devro (DVO.L) is also hit by swine flu anxiety, closing down 3.4 percent.

Hosted speech recognition services company Eckoh (ECK.L) closes 32.6 percent higher after an upbeat trading update highlighting a three-year contract with Capita (CPI.L) and Intelecom UK, alongside two contract renewals in the utility sector.

For more on Genus double click on [ID:nLR189675]; for more on swine flu, click on [FLU/]; for more on Eckoh double click on [ID:nLR150224]

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