Updated at 1604 GMT

By Ankika Biswas

Oct 25 (Reuters) -London's blue-chip stock index slipped on Friday as investors assessed a mixed bag of corporate earnings ahead of a highlyawaited first budget from the country's new government next week.

The FTSE 100 .FTSE was down 0.3%, while the domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC edged up 0.1%. Both the indexes recorded weeklydeclines.

The FTSE 350 medicalequipment & services index .FTNMX201020 was the worst-hit sector on the day, down 2.5%, weighed down by Smith & Nephew SN.L.

Shares in Close Brothers Group CBRO.L slumped 25% and Lloyds LLOY.L dropped 7.3% after a London court ruled that motor finance brokers must fully inform customers about commissions when taking out car loans.

On the flip side, British bank NatWestNWG.L climbed 0.6% after it raised its income forecast for 2024.

With the budget scheduled for Oct. 30, UK's finance minister Rachel Reeves faces a tough task of raisingthe tax revenues needed to invest more in public services and new infrastructure. Further, a fresh report showed Reeves was also seeking to change fiscal rules.

A survey showed British consumer confidence fell to the lowest level since March amid concerns about possible tax hikes.

Among other movers, Airtel Africa AAF.L dropped 5.7% to its lowest level since early September after the telecommunications services provider reported a double-digit fall in half-yearly operating profit.

Intertek Group ITRK.L lost 1.1% after HSBC initiated coverage on the British product testing firm's stock with a "reduce" rating.

Abrdn ABDN.L shares fell 3.1%, adding to an 11.2% drop in the prior session when it reporteddeeper-than-expected outflows of client funds in the third quarter.

Reporting by Ankika Biswas and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Louise Heavens

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