** Shares of Mears Group MER.L, which provides housing services including maintenance and management, rise about 5% to 373.5 pence
** Among top gainers on FTSE small cap index .FTSC, which is up 0.05%
** Co's adjusted PBT for year ending December 31, 2025, expected at top end of market guidance issued in Aug, modestly ahead of expectations of 54 million pounds ($71.98 million)
** YTD, stock up nearly 5%, .FTSC up 8.3%
($1 = 0.7502 pounds)
(Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu in Bengaluru)
((DhanushVignesh.Babu@thomsonreuters.com))