BUZZ-Greene King: pub co a good play on UK consumer theme-JPM

** Greene King (Other OTC: GKNGY - news) (GK) outperforms sharply lower FTSE 250 as JPMorgan (LSE: JPIU.L - news) upgrades to "overweight" vs "neutral"

** Says UK pub sector, for all its challenges, offers good exposure to UK consumer environment

** JPM flags major pub cos have generally stable & predictable cash flows with attractive yields & are well placed to improve returns through improved mix of sales & consolidation

** Decisive election result means robust UK economy more likely now as cos/individuals holding back on investment (weak Q1 UK GDP seen as symptom) can now press ahead, say PMs; election outcome seen as more business-friendly

** Also, this yr's Rugby World Cup a likely magnet for pub-goers

** Shares (Frankfurt: DI6.F - news) in rival Spirit Pub, which GK plans to buy, rise in tandem; CMA's decision on merger recently released; Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) says from GK's statement in response, it reckons GK considers undertakings required as reasonable

** GK among stocks held by Premier AM's head of UK equities Chris White (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)