UK's FTSE 100 bucks European gloom on Rolls-Royce, LSEG boost

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Feb 27 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 advanced on Thursday as bright forecasts from the likes of Rolls-Royce and the London Stock Exchange Group helped the blue-chip index buck the weakness in other European bourses due to the latest U.S. tariff threats.

The FTSE 100 .FTSE was up 0.1% by 1047 GMT, set to extend its gains to a third straight day.

In contrast, the Europe-wide STOXX 600 .STOXX slipped 0.5% as tariff-sensitive stocks came under pressure after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose 25% "reciprocal" tariffs on cars and other goods from the European Union.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to meet Trump in Washington later in the day, with tariffs a key issue.

The aerospace and defence index .FTNMX502010 surged almost 11% after Rolls-Royce RR.L soared a shade under 19% to an all-time high as the engine-maker lifted its mid-term targets and its full-year results beat estimates.

The London Stock Exchange Group LSEG.L advanced 2.2% after the British exchange operator forecast continued growth and improved profitability in 2025.

Aviva AV.L rose 1.9% after beating full-year profit estimates on double-digit growth in general insurance premiums.

On the flip side, WPP WPP.L languished at the bottom of the FTSE 100, tumbling 15.6% as the ad group reported a bigger-than-expected decline in full-year organic revenue.

The mid-cap index .FTMC slipped 0.8%, with Ocado OCDO.L sliding 14% on concerns over a slowdown in the rollout of robotic sites.

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