UK shares fall on hard Brexit fears; NMC Health tanks on short attack

By Shashwat Awasthi and Yadarisa Shabong

(Reuters) - British firms more exposed to the domestic economy took a hit on Tuesday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's hard line in talks with the European Union rekindled fears of a hard Brexit, while NMC Health plunged on Muddy Waters' short attack.

Johnson will use his control of parliament to outlaw any extension of the Brexit transition period beyond 2020 - his boldest move since winning a large majority in last Thursday's election, and one that spooked financial markets.

That pushed the midcap FTSE 250 <.FTMC> down more than 1% on its worst day in more than two months. The index had touched successive all-time highs in the last two sessions after Johnson's election victory.

However, London's main index FTSE 100 <.FTSE> eked out a 0.1% gain, lifted by trade-sensitive stocks amid optimism around a proper agreement between China and the United States.

Oil majors BP <BP.L> and Shell <RDSa.L> along with HSBC <HSBA.L> were the biggest boost.

Weighing on the index was Unilever's <ULVR.L> 7% drop, its steepest one-day decline in more than a decade, after cutting its 2019 sales growth view.

NMC Health Plc <NMC.L> also capped gains after losing nearly one-third of its value.

Finablr <FINF.L>, which was founded and co-chaired by Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty - also the founder and co-chairman of NMC Healthcare, dropped 10.8%, with traders citing a read-across from NMC.

JPMorgan's basket of London-listed companies <.JPDEUKDM> that make their cash in domestic markets dropped 2.2%, having soared more than 9% since Friday over the election euphoria.

An index of housebuilders <.FTNMX3720> shed 2.4%.

"The reality check of the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, while still over a year away, has tempered some of the enthusiasm from last Thursday's election result," CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said.

The steepest faller among midcaps was Senior Plc <SNR.L>, which makes parts for Boeing Co's <BA.N> 737 MAX jets, tumbling 11% on its worst day in over three years after the U.S. planemaker's decision to suspend production of the MAX jets.

Shares of other Boeing <BA.N> suppliers as well as those of airlines also slipped, with British Airways owner IAG <ICAG.L> and engine maker Rolls-Royce <RR.L> shedding more that 2% each.

Meanwhile, blue-chip banks Lloyds <LLOY.L> and RBS <RBS.L> tumbled 5.9% and 3% respectively after failing to impress in the 2019 stress test, while new capital rules are expected to hit their investor payout plans.

Petrofac <PFC.L> fell 6.6% after the oilfield services provider forecast lower annual revenue.

(Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi and Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Uttaresh.V; Editing by Mark Heinrich)