* FTSE 100 down 0.9%, FTSE 250 down 1%
* Poll shows Conservative lead narrowed
* U.S.-China trade worries also weigh
* Ocado surges on Aeon partnership
* Daily Mirror publisher jumps among small-caps
(Adds news items, analyst comment, graphic, closing prices)
By Shashwat Awasthi
Nov 29 (Reuters) - London-listed shares most exposed to the
domestic economy took a beating on Friday after a poll showed
the Conservative Party's lead over the opposition Labour Party
had narrowed ahead of Britain's Dec. 12 election.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives now hold an 8
point lead over Labour, compared with 10 a week ago, according
to a Panelbase poll. The mid-caps .FTMC snapped a five-day winning streak and
shed 1%, their worst day in almost two months. JPMorgan's basket
of London-listed companies .JPDEUKDM that make their cash at
home skidded 2%.
Blue-chip banks RBS RBS.L and Lloyds LLOY.L gave up 2.5%
each, while retailers .FTNMX5370 and housebuilders
.FTNMX3720 also eased as the main index .FTSE slid 0.9%.
Markets have been buying into domestic shares amid hopes
that Johnson, who has said that he will deliver Brexit by Jan.
31 if he retains power, will win a majority and put an end to
3-1/2 years of uncertainty over Britain leaving the bloc.
The poll exacerbated a decline in domestic firms after a
survey earlier showed British consumer confidence reeling at its
joint-lowest level since November 2013. Johnson's comment that he wanted to keep in place
preparations the government has made for the possibility of a
no-deal Brexit also fanned anxiety.
Bucking the trend, Ocado OCDO.L jumped 10% on its best day
since February, after signing a technology partnership with
Japan's biggest supermarket operator, Aeon 8267.T .
"The deal has settled investor nerves which had been showing
signs of fraying on a lack of new partnerships and rumours of
trouble with its Kroger marriage," Markets.com analyst Neil
Wilson said.
Trading volumes were once again low with Wall Street working
a half-day session after Thanksgiving.
Still, the FTSE moved further away from a near four-month
high hit earlier this week, as trade-sensitive stocks fell on
fears that the U.S. ratification of a law backing Hong Kong
protesters would dent progress made in trade talks with China.
However, OANDA analyst Jeffrey Halley said, given China's
issues around corporate debt and regional bank credit quality,
the country could ill-afford to waste any progress made on trade
talks.
Despite downbeat trading on Friday, the mid-caps enjoyed a
third straight month of gains and the biggest since January. The
blue-chip bourse also posted monthly gains for the eighth month
this year.
Among small-caps, Reach RCH.L soared 15% on its best day
since November 2013, after the Daily Mirror publisher said it
was confident of meeting annual targets. Commercial vehicle rental firm Northgate NTG.L tumbled 10%
after a deal to buy accident claims handler Redde REDD.L ,
which added 2.2%. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The rise and rise of Ocado since 2017 https://tmsnrt.rs/2XYGyr3
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>