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FTSE 100 down 0.2%, FTSE 250 off 0.2%
Jan 31 (Reuters) - London's main stock indexes slipped on Tuesday as investors braced for a series of interest rate hikes from major central banks this week, while the IMF's warning about the UK economy added to the downbeat sentiment. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index slipped 0.2% by 0812 GMT, with economically sensitive energy, banks and mining stocks leading losses. Britain is the only Group of Seven nation to have suffered a cut to its 2023 economic growth outlook in International Monetary Fund forecasts published on Tuesday, adding to pressure on finance minister Jeremy Hunt to come up with a growth plan. The economy looks set to shrink by 0.6% this year, a sharp downgrade from previously expected growth of 0.3% in the IMF's October forecast. Meanwhile, traders are betting on the Bank of England to hike interest rates for a tenth consecutive time on Thursday. The midcap FTSE 250 index slipped 0.2%. Limiting the index's losses, Pets At Home jumped 10.3% after the company raised its full-year profit forecast, boosted by robust demand for its pet food, litter and accessories during the Christmas period. Johnson Matthey rose 1.8% after the chemicals firm said it had entered into a long-term supply and joint development agreement with Plug Power for hydrogen technology-related products. (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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