London stocks edge lower as sterling climbs, automakers slip

• FTSE 100 down 0.11%%, FTSE 250 down 0.12%
• Auto stocks slide tracking losses in European peers
• Gold stocks shine as gold hits record high
• Airlines down on cyberattack at European airports

Sept 22 (Reuters) - London stocks edged lower on Monday, pressured by weakness in automakers and a stronger pound, as investors awaited comments from several Federal Reserve officials later in the day.

The benchmark FTSE 100 .FTSE was down 0.11% at 1006 GMT, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 .FTMC fell 0.12%.

British automobiles and parts .FTNMX401010 stocks fell 1.6%, tracking losses in the broader European automobile sector .SXAP after Porsche P911_p.DE scaled back plans for its electric vehicle rollout, prompting the luxury sportscar maker and its parent Volkswagen VOWG.DE to slash their 2025 profit outlooks.

British luxury carmaker Aston Martin AML.L slipped 3.2%.

Sterling's strength against the greenback also weighed on export-oriented firms, as investors paused after Friday's selloff driven by fiscal concerns.

The Bank of England left key interest rates unchanged last week as it contended with sticky inflation and uncertainty around jobs and growth.

Caution dominated broader sentiment after a report on Friday showed Britain’s borrowing exceeded official forecasts, adding pressure on Finance Minister Rachel Reeves ahead of her November budget.

Precious metal miners .FTNMX551030 rose 5.1%, the most among sectors, as gold hit a record high on rising expectations of a more dovish rate path. GOL/

Miner Fresnillo FRES.L was among the top gainers in the FTSE 100 with a 4% rise while Hochschild HOCM.L jumped 8.8%.

Other miners, including Glencore GLEN.L and Rio Tinto RIO.L, added 1.2% and 1.4%, respectively. An index of industrial metal miners .FTNMX551020 edged up 1.3%, tracking gains in copper prices. MET/L

London-listed airlines declined due to delays at European airports following a reported cyberattack. EasyJet EZJ.L, British airways owner IAG ICAG.L and Wizz Air WIZZ.L, fell between 1.3% and 1.5%.

British food ingredients maker Tate & Lyle TATE.L fell about 6%, the most on the FTSE 250, after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to “underweight” from “equal-weight.”

Investors will watch for remarks from at least five Fed officials later Monday, while Chair Jerome Powell is due to speak Tuesday after last week's 25-basis-point rate cut.