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* FTSE 250 down 0.4%, FTSE 100 up 0.2%
* Fresnillo at bottom of main index after weak outlook
* Exporters benefit from weaker pound
(Adds company news items, updates share moves)
By Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi
Oct 23 (Reuters) - Shares in domestically-focussed UK
companies slid on Wednesday while those on the blue-chip FTSE
100 inched higher as votes in parliament kept investors guessing
on the final timing and shape of Britain's withdrawal from the
European Union.
With worries over turbulence in Hong Kong and global growth
feeding losses for stock markets globally, the FTSE 250 index of
midcap firms dipped 0.4% by 0745 GMT.
Helped by a dip for the pound in response to Prime
Minister Boris Johnson's failure to get MPs to back his
accelerated Brexit timetable overnight, the exporter-heavy FTSE
100 edged 0.2% higher.
Precious metals miner Fresnillo dropped nearly 2%
after it forecast annual silver and gold production at the lower
end of an already reduced target range, and reported a fall in
quarterly output.
While lawmakers voted for a second hearing on the departure
agreement, rejection of Johnson's timetable raises the
likelihood of another delay in Britain's withdrawal as well as
the prospect of a snap election before Christmas.
"The latest twist in the Brexit saga also means that
investors may have to contend with more political risk by way of
a UK election," said Han Tan, Market Analyst at FXTM.
Raymond James analyst Chris Bailey called the Brexit
situation "a mess" overall and said the core scenario of an
extension or an election was becoming more likely.
The uncertainty around Brexit and its consequences continues
to show up in the performance of UK firms. Housebuilders
, considered among the most vulnerable, lost nearly
1%, with Barratt, Persimmon and Berkeley
the biggest losers on the blue chip index.
That was offset by gains for companies who earn largely in
foreign currencies including British American Tobacco
and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.
Miner Centamin also shone on the FTSE 250 with a 3%
gain after third-quarter production report.
(Reporting by Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi in Bengaluru;
Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Patrick Graham)
