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* WPP ( WPP ) soars 26% after saying trading trajectory improved in

recent months

* Admiral jumps 4.6% after first-half results and share

buyback announcement

* Tritax Big Box REIT drops 4% after placing 350 million

pound share sale

Aug 6 (Reuters) - The UK's main stock indexes edged higher

on Thursday, bucking the weakness in Asian markets, as strong

earnings from companies, including Persimmon and WPP ( WPP ), lifted

sentiment.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.3% to 10,921.64

points by 0942 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 climbed

0.1% to 24,663.72 points.

* Persimmon climbed 3.6% after the housebuilder

forecast annual home deliveries at the top end of its range,

while insurer Admiral jumped 4.6% after its first-half

results and share buyback announcement.

* Among the midcap stocks, WPP ( WPP ) soared 26%, on track

for its biggest single-day percentage gain in over three

decades, after the ad firm said the trajectory had improved in

recent months, even as it reported a 4.7% drop in first-half

adjusted revenue.

* Asian stocks and U.S. Nasdaq futures came under pressure

as turbulence in the chip sector persisted, though broader

European markets were at record highs.

* Oil prices edged higher as uncertainty over Iran-Oman

talks to end five months of war between Iran and the United

States, as well as reports of attacks on Saudi tankers in key

shipping routes, stoked supply concerns.

* Investors are awaiting U.S. non-farm payrolls data on

Friday for clues on the health of the labour market and interest

rate trajectory.

* The downturn in Britain's construction industry eased in

July as commercial building and housebuilding weakened less

sharply, with builder optimism hitting its highest level since

before the Iran war, a survey by S&P Global showed.

* An index of British housebuilders added

1.2%.

* Among other movers, real estate investment trust Tritax

Big Box REIT dropped 4%, becoming the top decliner in

the FTSE 100, after it placed a £350 million share sale at £1.64

a share.

* Hikma Pharmaceuticals ( HKMPF ) rose 9% after it reported a

9% rise in half-year core operating profit and maintained its

annual outlook.