(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock

markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window)

*

FTSE 100 down 0.1%, FTSE 250 up 0.1%

*

BP and Shell decline as oil drops

*

SSE soars on 33 billion pounds investment plan

Nov 12 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 index edged lower

on Wednesday after closing at record high levels for two

consecutive sessions, as losses in industrials and energy shares

weighed on the market.

The blue-chip index was down 0.1% at 9,886 points as

of 1214 GMT, but still hovering near record levels and within

striking distance of the 10,000 mark. The mid-cap index FTSE 250

gained 0.1%.

Market sentiment improved earlier this week on hopes of a

U.S. government shutdown resolution.

Investors are now expecting that the U.S. House of

Representatives might soon vote to end the shutdown that has

suspended crucial economic data releases. This resolution would

likely provide greater clarity for the Federal Reserve's

upcoming interest rate decisions.

In UK markets, industrial shares declined

1.3%, with credit data specialist Experian ( EXPGF ) dropping

3.1% despite forecasting full-year revenue growth of 11%, the

upper end of its outlook range.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca ( AZN ) was down 0.5%,

retreating from the record high achieved in the previous

session. The broader pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector

slipped 0.6%.

Energy shares weakened as oil prices dipped

following Tuesday's surge, with oil majors BP and Shell

falling 0.8% and 0.3%, respectively.

Homebuilders declined 1.8%. Taylor Wimpey's

shares fell nearly 4% after reporting a softer autumn

selling season as British buyers hesitated ahead of the budget

announcement.

Conversely, personal goods led the gainers,

rising 3.2%.

Utilities advanced 2.4% as SSE surged

12.3% to a record high after unveiling a 33 billion pounds

($44.29 billion) five-year investment plan to upgrade the UK's

regulated electricity networks and expand its renewable

business.

Looking ahead, market participants are awaiting Thursday's

preliminary UK GDP figures for the third quarter, which will

offer crucial insights into the nation's economic health before

the government's budget announcement later this month.

Among other stocks, Smithson Investment ( STINF ) rose 6.7%

after announcing plans to convert its assets into an open-ended

fund, while Avon Technologies ( AVNBF ) jumped 8.3% to a

five-year high following an upbeat fiscal year outlook.

($1 = 0.7451 pounds)