London close: Stocks end lower on Greek worries

Even so, speaking after the close of markets the Mediterranean country’s economics minister, Giorgios Stathakis, said Athens will be able to repay the first tranche of its loans to the IMF on 5 June.

The FTSE 100 finished the day lower by 0.80% or 56.49 points at 7,984.43. The Athens Stock Exchange’s general index surrendered 1.4% to end the week at 825.38 points.

Although markets are pricing in a 70% of a Greek default, traders are still sanguine regarding the risk of a Greek exit from the single currency area.

Earlier in the day the latest GDP data showed Greece fell back into recession in the first quarter of the year.

"It’s ultimately a question of when rather than if," said Brenda Kelly at London Capital Group.

"General crisis fatigue is setting in and while volatility exists, the lack of a protracted sell-off could indicate that perhaps markets are being slightly sanguine of the ramifications of this possibility."

Data showed UK business confidence was at an eight-month high, in fact. The Lloyds Bank Business Confidence Barometer climbed 2% month-on-month to 55% in May, reaching its highest level since September on rising optimism about the economy and trading prospects.

Ashtead, Morrison lead losses

Ashtead was the worst performer on the Footsie, extending Thursday's losses, which came as competitor United Rentals dropped 6% from comments made at a KeyBanc capital markets conference where the firm played down its trading for May.

Morrison was another poor performer on the top flight index after it became known the relationship between suppliers and retailers is set to be scrutinised by the Financial Reporting Council following Tesco’s accounting scandal.

Astrazeneca was in the red, despite announcing plans to collaborate with Lilly on immuno-oncology combination clinical trials on solid tumours.

Topping the FTSE 100 was Associated British Foods after Goldman Sachs upgraded its shares to ‘buy’ from ‘sell’ and raised the price target to 3120p from 2755p, saying that the stock’s 17% underperformance year-to-date offers an attractive entry point.

Ophir Energy was another stock on the up thanks to a broker upgrade, with Barclays making the oil company one of its top sector picks.

Market Movers

techMARK 3,303.90 -0.76%
FTSE 100 6,984.43 -0.80%
FTSE 250 18,154.42 -0.45%

FTSE 100 - Risers
Associated British Foods (ABF) 3,028.00p +2.64%
Fresnillo (FRES) 759.50p +2.57%
Weir Group (WEIR) 2,024.00p +2.43%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,735.00p +1.13%
Glencore (GLEN) 287.95p +0.77%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 255.35p +0.65%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 475.40p +0.40%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,379.50p +0.22%
Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 337.20p +0.06%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,120.00p -3.53%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 171.00p -3.39%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 4,372.50p -2.66%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 554.00p -2.64%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 1,159.00p -2.44%
Old Mutual (OML) 221.10p -2.38%
WPP (WPP) 1,540.00p -2.35%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,605.50p -2.33%
SABMiller (SAB) 3,494.00p -2.24%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 251.60p -2.18%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 270.00p +4.65%
Booker Group (BOK) 177.70p +4.53%
Card Factory (CARD) 362.30p +4.50%
Lonmin (LMI) 141.00p +3.37%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 131.40p +3.30%
Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 360.60p +2.85%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 652.00p +2.68%
Premier Oil (PMO) 163.20p +2.51%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 70.10p +2.34%
esure Group (ESUR) 259.10p +2.29%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
NMC Health (NMC) 760.50p -4.34%
Renishaw (RSW) 2,400.00p -4.23%
Synergy Health (SYR) 1,823.00p -3.80%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 364.50p -3.62%
Evraz (EVR) 168.60p -2.88%
Bodycote (BOY) 743.50p -2.75%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 248.90p -2.70%
Greencore Group (GNC) 329.20p -2.40%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 1,869.00p -2.25%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,230.00p -2.15%