London midday: FTSE in the red after Greek announcement, ahead of US non-farm payrolls

London stocks were firmly lower by lunchtime on Friday, weighed down by Greece's announcement and caution ahead of the release of non-farm payrolls figures in the US, due out later on in the session.

Greek authorities announced that they have decided to pay the outstanding debt in one payment at the end of the month.

The announcement came amid ongoing negotiations over the terms of a deal that if successful will unlock the last tranche of its bailout deal.

That comes amid concerns about the latest US non-farm payrolls figures, which are due to be unveiled mid-afternoon, particularly after the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that the Federal Reserve should hold fire on raising rates until 2016.

“Expectations for May payrolls is for 226,000 new jobs, a slight increase in April’s 223,000, with the unemployment rate set to remain unchanged at 5.4%, though this week’s weak ISM services employment components could see this number come in short, said Michael Hewson, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.

The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 5.4%.

On the company front, just a handful of blue chips - all of them miners - were in positive territory, while the downside was led by Marks & Spencer, following closely by housebuilders.

M&S was retreating after yesterday's results, which showed its first increase in profits in four years.

Shares in Vodafone fell after the company quashed hopes of a merger with Liberty Global. Responding to recent media speculation, Vodafone said that is in early-stage talks with Liberty Global about a possible exchange of assets, but not regarding a merger.

An interim management statement from Bellway revealed the housebuilder expects its full year operating margin to increase by around 300 basis points to over 20%, up from 17.2% in 2014 following what it described as a strong trading performance.

Market Movers
techMARK 3,227.76 -1.24%
FTSE 100 6,790.81 -1.00%
FTSE 250 17,924.35 -0.92%

FTSE 100 - Risers
Anglo American (AAL) 1,019.50p +1.44%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,331.00p +0.57%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 2,865.50p +0.54%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 742.50p +0.20%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 563.50p -2.59%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 183.90p -2.44%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 590.00p -2.40%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,008.00p -2.33%
Schroders (SDR) 3,265.00p -2.27%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 174.30p -2.24%
Travis Perkins (TPK) 2,147.00p -2.14%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 422.90p -2.13%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 467.10p -2.10%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 243.25p -1.95%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Riverstone Energy Limited (RSE) 1,045.00p +2.65%
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 1,198.00p +1.87%
Telecom Plus (TEP) 826.50p +1.85%
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT) 1,038.00p +1.76%
RPS Group (RPS) 234.00p +1.74%
Poundland Group (PLND) 300.90p +1.66%
Allied Minds (ALM) 608.50p +1.59%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,327.00p +1.45%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 656.50p +1.23%
De La Rue (DLAR) 516.00p +1.18%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Betfair Group (BET) 2,504.00p -5.33%
Just Eat (JE.) 430.80p -3.75%
BTG (BTG) 681.50p -3.67%
Big Yellow Group (BYG) 633.00p -2.91%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 398.50p -2.52%
Halma (HLMA) 753.00p -2.52%
Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 227.50p -2.44%
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 768.00p -2.41%
Provident Financial (PFG) 2,881.00p -2.27%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 440.80p -2.20%