FTSE 100 stalls after record run; CMC Markets tumbles

For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window

Jan 23 (Reuters) - The UK's FTSE 100 stalled on Thursday after touching a record high in the prior session as investors sought clarity on U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies, while shares in CMC Markets tumbled on a disappointing forecast.

The blue-chip index .FTSE dipped 0.1% as of 1135 GMT, having touched an all-time high on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 midcap index .FTMC dropped 0.2%.

Stock investors largely took comfort this week as Trump held off imposing hefty tariffs on his first day in the office and announced big investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, sparking a rally in global tech shares.

Focus is now on economic data, corporate earnings and remarks from Trump later in the day.

In earnings-driven moves, CMC Markets CMCX.L dropped 14.2% after the trading platform's muted forecast fell short of investors' heightened expectations following upbeat projections from industry peers.

IG Group IGG.L slipped 4.5% despite the online trading platform posting a 30% rise in its first-half profit.

Auto distributor Inchcape INCH.L dropped 10.6%, with traders pointing a downgrade by J.P. Morgan.

The FTSE 100-listed Associated British Foods ABF.L dropped 2.6% after it reported weak trading in its main UK market in the Christmas quarter and cut annual sales forecast for its Primark budget fashion retailer.

Investors meanwhile are awaiting a slew of monetary policy decisions including the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank next week and the Bank of England (BoE) in early February.

Data last week showed British inflation slowed unexpectedly last month and core measures of price growth - tracked by the BoE - fell more sharply, cementing bets of a rate cut next month.

Traders are putting an 82% chance of a first quarter-point reduction on Feb. 6 and see two rate cuts this year.

An industry survey on Thursday showed a sharp downturn in British factories eased only slightly in January and optimism among manufacturers sagged to its lowest level in over two years.

For related prices, Reuters users may click on - *  UK stock report     .L     FTSE index:         0#.FTS6  techMARK 100 index: .FTT1X         FTSE futures:     0#FFI:  Gilt futures:       0#FLG:         Smallcap index:    .FTSC  FTSE 250 index:     .FTMC          FTSE 350 index:    .FTLC  Market digest:      .AD.L          Top 10 by vol:     .AV.L  Top price gainers:  .NG.L          Top % gainers:     .PG.L  Top price losers:   .NL.L          Top % losers:      .PL.L 
     * For related news, click on - * UK hot stocks:      HOT and GB     Wall Street:          .N Gilts report:       GB/            Euro bond report GVD/EUR Pan European stock report: .EU Tokyo stocks:       .T             HK stocks:           .HK Sterling report:    GBP/           Dollar report:      USD/
     * For company prices, click on - * Company directory:  UKEQ          By sector:          FTAX 
     * For pan-European market data, click on - * European Equities speed guide................ EUR/EQUITY  FTSE Eurotop 300 index........................... .FTEU3  DJ STOXX index................................... .STOXX  Top 10 STOXX sectors........................ .PGL.STOXXS  Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors................... .PGL.STOXXES  Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors.................. .PGL.FTEU3S  Top 25 European pct gainers.................... .PG.PEUR  Top 25 European pct losers..................... .PL.PEUR