STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Genus falls on currency and porcine virus concerns

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Shares in Genus Plc (LSE: GNS.L - news) fall as much as 7 percent after the company - which uses genetics and biotechnology in animal breeding - warns of the near-term impact of a strong sterling currency and concerns over a new virus in the north American porcine industry.

Genus also reports a 4 percent fall in first-half operating profit to 23.3 million pounds ($38.75 million).

"The spread of Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus across north America has substantially reduced visibility on FY 2014 earnings, which is further compounded by recent sterling strength," Panmure Gordon analysts Damian McNeela and Graham Jones write in a note.

The analysts cut their 2014 adjusted pretax profit estimates on the company by 9 percent to 16 percent.

Genus' shares later claw back some ground to stand 1 percent lower at 1,186 pence in mid-session trading.

"Both these headwinds are temporary, but they will require additional patience from shareholders as they wait for the EPS (earnings per share) growth that Genus's market position and strategy promises," add Liberum analysts in a note.

Liberum downgrades its 2014 earnings per share estimate by 7-8 percent to between 48 pence and 49 pence.

Genus generates more than a third of its revenue from North America, and sterling has gained more than 10 percent against the dollar in the last six months.

($1 = 0.6013 British pounds) Reuters messaging rm://aastha.agnihotri.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net