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* FTSE 100 down 0.6%, FTSE 250 up 0.1%

* Pharma shares drag, while precious metal miners track

higher gold prices

* AstraZeneca ( AZN ) slumps after late-stage trial setback

* Playtech ( PYTCF ) tops midcaps on upbeat 2026 profit forecast

July 9 (Reuters) - The UK's FTSE 100 slipped on Thursday as

investors grappled with renewed Middle East tensions, with

heavyweight AstraZeneca ( AZN ) adding to the pressure after reporting

disappointing results from a late-stage trial.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.6% to 10,417.63

points by 1045 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 climbed

0.1%.

* Oil prices were marginally higher after fresh U.S. strikes

on Iran, though investor concerns were tempered after U.S.

President Donald Trump said he did not expect the conflict to

escalate into a full-fledged war. Energy stocks

fell 1%.

* Pharmaceutical shares were the worst

performers, down 6.2%, led by a 9.2% drop in AstraZeneca ( AZN )

after the drugmaker's nerve disease drug Wainua, made in

partnership with U.S.-based Ionis, failed to meet the

main goal of reducing cardiovascular deaths and recurring heart

problems in a late-stage trial.

* Precious metal miners rose 2.6%, tracking

higher gold prices as a weaker dollar boosted bullion's appeal,

while investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle

East for clues on the inflation and interest-rate outlook.

* Playtech ( PYTCF ) topped the midcap index, rising 17.7%

after the gaming firm forecast 2026 adjusted core profit above

market expectations on robust growth in the U.S. and Latin

America.

* Computacenter ( CUUCF ) was among the top performers on the

benchmark, rising more than 7% after the IT services provider

said it expects annual results to exceed market expectations,

helped by strong demand for AI-related infrastructure from

hyperscale customers in North America and the UK.