text: Dixons Carphone shares were up 1% after it said full-year profits were set to be slightly higher than previously forecast.
  The FTSE 100 index was down 17.61 points at 6,910.66.
  Shares in WH Smith rose 2.9% after it reported flat like-for-like sales in the three months to 30 May.
  Like-for-like sales at its travel business rose 4%, but fell 4% at WH Smith's High Street stores.
  Shares in Royal Mail rose 0.7% to 527.50p. The company announced on Wednesday that Peter Long, joint chief executive of travel firm TUI, would be its next chairman.
  On the currency markets, the pound was flat against the dollar at $1.5345 and rose 0.1% against the euro to â‚¬1.3772.
target: (Open): The UK market opened lower, but a well-received trading update from Dixons Carphone sent shares in the retailer higher.