Britain's FTSE 100 slips as healthcare, energy weigh

(Reuters) - Britain's benchmark index extended declines on Thursday as top healthcare stocks continued to decline on fears of higher U.S. tariffs, while a mixed bag of corporate earnings did little to improve sentiment.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 was down 0.2% by 1100 GMT, also dragged by declines in marquee names such as BP, AstraZeneca and Imperial Brands as they traded without entitlement to their dividend.

On the flip side, the midcap FTSE 250 was up 0.2%.

AstraZeneca and GSK declined 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively, remaining under pressure since U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats on pharmaceutical imports, besides on auto and semiconductor products.

The aerospace and defence index was the top loser, falling 1.4%.

The energy index was down 0.8%, dragged by a 3.4% slide in Diversified Energy after the company priced a stock offering. BP lost 2.3% and was among the top losers on the FTSE 100.

Limiting overall losses, the precious metals and mining sector gained 2.5%, riding the coattails of a climb in bullion prices to an all-time high due to mounting concerns of a global trade war.

Among single stocks, Centrica jumped 7.8%, the most on the FTSE 100, after the electricity and gas supplier set a 500 million pounds ($629.7 million) share buyback plan and maintained its 2025 forecast.

Lloyds Banking Group rose 4.2% on the back of sturdy fourth-quarter results and a share buyback plan.

Anglo American climbed 3.2% after the miner agreed to merge its Los Bronces copper mine in Chile with state-backed Codelco's Andina mine. It also posted an annual loss.

Ithaca Energy jumped nearly 10% to the top of the mid-cap index after the North Sea-focused company reported higher 2024 production.

(Reporting by Ragini Mathur in Bengaluru)