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* FTSE 100 up 0.4 pct
* UK Q1 GDP growth slowest since 2012
* Sliding sterling boosts exporters
* Declining oil prices take toll on energy stocks
By Helen Reid
LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - British shares climbed onFriday after weaker than expected GDP data triggered a slide insterling, while Royal Bank of Scotland shares fell after itsfirst-quarter results.
UK growth slowed much more sharply than expected in thefirst quarter, sending the pound to its lowest since March 9against the dollar and raising questions about whetherthe Bank of England will raise rates next month.
Sterling's fall boosted multinational dollar-earners on theFTSE 100, helping it jump 0.4 percent to its highestsince February 5, when a rolling global sell-off spread acrossmarkets.
UK-listed consumer staples stocks, which overwhelmingly makeearnings in dollars and translate them back into sterling, allmade gains as the pound fell.
Diageo, Unilever, British American Tobaccoand Reckitt Benckiser rose 1 to 1.5 percent, thebiggest boosts to the FTSE.
The index of major UK companies was on track to seal itsfifth straight week of gains, its longest winning streak sinceJanuary.
Results dominated trading with Royal Bank of Scotland down1.7 percent and among the worst-performing European banks.
RBS shares fell despite the bank reporting a muchstronger than expected pre-tax profit of 792 million pounds($1.10 billion) in the first quarter, as costs from legal finesand restructuring fell.
Investors are still awaiting the outcome of the U.S.Department of Justice's investigation into alleged historicalU.S. RMBS mis-selling, analysts said, also noting adeterioration in net promoter scores.
"In particular, the negative and deteriorating net promoterscores in NatWest branded business banking... look awful," wroteJefferies analyst Joseph Dickerson.
Oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell suffered shareprice falls, hampering the FTSE's gains as crude pricesdeclined, having surged over the past week.
A revival in tech stocks helped the broader regional marketsmake gains, with Europe's tech sector near a six-weekhigh.
Shares in investment trust Scottish Mortgage, whichholds many of the heavyweight U.S. tech stocks, rose to the topof the FTSE after strong results from Amazon and Facebook sentthe stocks soaring.
Overall sentiment on the UK has improved, with several bigbrokers raising their recommendation on the market in the pastweeks. Investors still have their doubts, however.
"In the UK while we remain broadly positive there are a lotof headwinds as the Brexit negotiations continue. The marketwill swing on news on a daily basis," said Gary Waite, portfoliomanager at Walker Crips.
"It's got the lowest growth rate among developed economies,so on a relative trade the marginal capital is better deployedin emerging markets, U.S. and Japanese equities," he added.
In other results-driven moves, Madame Tussauds owner MerlinEntertainments gained 3.2 percent, rising to the top ofthe FTSE 250 after reporting trading in line with expectations.
The group said visits to its London attractions were howeverstill suffering from the impact of last year's militant attacksin Britain.
Carpetright shares were up 11.3 percent on thesmall-cap index after the struggling retailer'screditors and landlords approved its restructuring plan.
(Reporting by Helen Reid, Editing by William Maclean)
