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* SSP Group tumbles on Morgan Stanley downgrade
* HomeServe rises on first-half profit, dividend raise
* EU deal is far from certain - Johnson tells ministers
* FTSE 100 down 0.9%, FTSE 250 falls 0.5%
(Adds comment; updates share prices)
By Devik Jain
Nov 17 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 slipped from more than
a five-month high on Tuesday after a sharp vaccine-led rally, as
a stronger pound pressured exporters and investors remained
cautious about a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union.
After falling as much as 1.8% in afternoon trade, the
blue-chip index pared some of the losses and closed 0.9%
lower, dragged down by pharmaceutical, bank
and mining stocks.
The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index,
considered a barometer for Brexit sentiment, ended 0.5% lower,
after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned his top
ministers that a EU deal was far from certain but that Britain
would thrive with or without a deal.
"No deal at this moment would be a bitter blow for UK
businesses and consumers and it's inconceivable that the UK
leaves on these terms, let alone in the midst of a pandemic,"
said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA Europe.
UK markets have sharply rebounded this month from a 5% fall
in October, aided by a slew of stimulus measures and as positive
COVID-19 vaccine data spurred hopes of sooner-than expected
economic recovery.
"There has to be some caution here," said Greg Swenson,
founding partner of Brigg Macadam, a London-based investment
bank.
"This isn't one of those flip the switch - the vaccine has
arrived and everybody start buying. There will be some bumps in
the road... but surely the long-term prospects are exceptional."
In company news, Asset manager Intermediate Capital Group
surged 7.9% after posting a higher first-half profit,
while Imperial Brands Plc jumped 7.3% after forecasting
better profits for 2021.
Home repair services provider HomeServe Plc added
2.4% after it posted a stronger first-half profit and raised its
dividend.
EasyJet Plc fell 1.9% after it plunged to an annual
loss of 1.27 billion pounds, while Upper Crust owner SSP Group
tumbled 6.2% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock
to "equal-weight".
(Reporting by Devik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr,
Uttaresh. V and Nick Macfie)
