LONDON MARKETS: U.K. Stocks Fall As Investors Absorb Syriza Win

By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K. stocks fell Monday, pulled lower alongside other European equity markets, as investors assess the victory of the leftist Syriza party in Greece's general election.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.3% to 6,813.67, moving toward its first loss after seven consecutive sessions of gains. The broader European equity markets were down 0.4%, and U.S. stock futures (SPH5) (DJH5) were lower in the wake of Sunday's win by Syriza. The victory of anti-austerity Syriza, which has pledged to renegotiate the terms of Greece's bailout, has raised the possibility that Greece could ultimately default on its debt or even leave the eurozone.

On the FTSE 100, commodity stocks were among the biggest decliners. Oil producer Tullow Oil PLC was down 3.8%, and mining firm Anglo American PLC off 3.1%.

But shares of Shire PLC (SHPGY) rose 2.5% to the top of the benchmark after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (NPSP) hypoparathyroidism treatment Natpara. Shire is in the process of purchasing NPS for $5.2 billion.

Meanwhile, International Consolidated Airlines Group SA rose 0.9% after the parent of British Airways and Iberia submitted a higher bid of 2.55 euros ($2.86) a share for Aer Lingus Group PLC . Aer Lingus's board is considering the bid, the Irish airline said in a statement Monday.

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