UPDATE 2-Brexit worries hit domestic stocks but sterling slide lifts FTSE 100

* FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTSE 250 down 0.7%
* Exporters top boost to main index
* Brexit-sensitive stocks slip
* M&S slumps after discounted offering
* IG gains on new growth plan, boosts peers

(Adds company news items, updates to closing prices)
By Muvija M and Yadarisa Shabong
May 22 (Reuters) - Brexit sensitive housebuilders and
airlines slid on Wednesday as rumours circulated that ministers
could oust Theresa May after her latest EU exit plan failed to
win support, while exporters lifted the FTSE 100 as the pound
weakened.
The main index .FTSE , whose companies earn more than
two-thirds of their profit from abroad, ended 0.1% higher, while
the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 .FTMC slipped 0.7%.
A slump in sterling lifted internationally-exposed companies
GlaxoSmithKline GSK.L , Unilever ULVR.L and AstraZeneca
AZN.L , the biggest boosts to the FTSE 100.
The index outperformed world stocks, where confidence was
hit by renewed worries over the Sino-U.S. trade standoff after
reports the United States is considering sanctions on Chinese
video surveillance firm Hikvision. Stocks most sensitive to the any increased risk of a hard
Brexit stumbled after multiple media reported rumours May's
ministers could oust her in a row over her latest deal to exit
the European Union.
Blue-chip housebuilders such as Persimmon PSN.L , Taylor
Wimpey TW.L and Barratt BDEV.L lost between 5.5% and 4.5%,
while easyJet EZJ.L was down 5.8%.
Packaging firms were the biggest gainers on the main bourse
after Mondi MNDI.L raised container-board prices, according to
traders, while M&S MKS.L was the biggest loser. The retailer slumped 9.4% to a more than four-month low
after it priced a rights issue at a big discount to Tuesday's
close. It also reported a third straight decline in annual
profits, emphasising the pain of its latest turnaround plan.
SSE SSE.L slipped 3.5% after reporting a fall in annual
earnings and warning of an uncertain outlook due to the
opposition Labour party's plans to renationalise energy networks
should they win an election. Despite some strong earnings reports, the midcap index found
itself in the red as concerns over Brexit ratcheted up again,
with consumer stocks and industrials leading the way lower.
After announcing a plan to drive growth, financial trading
platform IG Group IGG.L surged 12.5% despite forecasting a
drop in full-year net trading revenue and operating profit.
That helped rivals Plus500 PLUSP.L and CMC Markets
CMCX.L to gain 6.4% and 3.7% respectively.
Metro Bank MTRO.L advanced 15.2% a day after the lender
escaped a potential investor challenge at its annual meeting,
although there were sizeable votes against several of its most
senior directors. Pets at Home PETSP.L jumped 14% after reporting
better-than-expected revenue and forecasting higher earnings for
2020. Engineering services group Babcock BAB.L weighed on the
index, tumbling 9.3% to an 8-1/2-year low after saying it
expected revenue and underlying operating profit to fall in
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Online trading platforms lag the wider index due to regulatory
woes https://tmsnrt.rs/2WlhmfX
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