* FTSE dips 0.8 pct
* WPP suffers worst since Aug. 2017(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikonnews window)
By Tom Pfeiffer
Investors have been on edge in recent weeks over concernsthat rising interest rates in advanced economies, led by
The FTSE fell 0.8 percent to 7,175.6 points, withthe decline accelerating after the Purchasing Managers' Indexsurvey data showed February manufacturing output expanded moreslowly despite a marked upturn in orders.
Worries that
WPP, one of
Its shares slumped 8.2 percent, marking its worst day sinceAugust 2017 and wiping 1.4 billion pounds off its market value.The results and gloomy comments on the business outlookcontrasted with more upbeat guidance from peers Omnicom,IPG and Publicis.
Rentokil Initial shares tumbled 9.1 percent afterdisclosing its results, which analysts said were in line withexpectations but showed slower growth and the need for furtherdigital investments this year.
Rio Tinto and RSA Insurance, tradingex-dividend, fell 3.7 percent and 2.1 percent respectively.
Luxury goods maker Burberry jumped 3.8 percentafter it named Riccardo Tisci as its new chief creative officer,replacing Christopher Bailey. Exane BNP Paribas saw theappointment as positive, pointing to Tisci's "strong trackrecord".(Editing by Janet Lawrence and Tom Balmforth)