Mexican stocks slip hit by Walmex, peso off

MEXICO CITY Jan 21 (Reuters) - Mexican stocks fell on Thursday, dragged down by top retailer Walmex and concerns over the latest round of U.S. jobless claims.

Mexico's benchmark IPC stock index .MXX lost 0.40 percent ot 31,898.

The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance unexpectedly rose last week as claims delayed from the year-end holidays were pushed through.

But the U.S. government said the increase was admnistrative rather than economic as claims that were not processed over the holidays were now being attended to.

Wal-Mart de Mexico (WALMEXV.MX) eased 1.16 percent to 61.35 pesos. The company, a unit of U.S. giant Wal-Mart Stores (WMT.N), is expected to disclose its 2010 store growth and investment outlook in mid February.

Meanwhile, the Mexican peso MXN= MEX01 weakened 0.48 percent to 12.6980 per dollar adding on to Wednesday's losses after the election of a Republican to a U.S. Senate seat helped the dollar gain broadly on the view the U.S. government might cut the fiscal deficit. (Reporting by Cyntia Barrera Diaz; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)