UPDATE 2-Stimulus, trade hopes lift FTSE 100; LSE at life high on Hong Kong bid

* FTSE 100 up 1%, FTSE 250 up 1.2%
* LSE jumps after $39 bln Hong Kong offer
* Financials lead gains for main bourse
* GMS drops after delaying results

(Adds company news items, analyst comments, updates to close of
trading)
By Muvija M and Shashwat Awasthi
Sept 11 (Reuters) - UK stocks advanced on Wednesday on signs
of less tension in the U.S.-China trade fight and prospects of
more stimulus from central banks, while shares in London Stock
Exchange scaled a record high after Hong Kong Exchanges and
Clearing's offer.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE rose 1%, its best one-day performance
in nearly ten days, while the midcap index .FTMC added 1.2%.
London Stock Exchange LSE.L took the top spot on the main
bourse with a 6% jump after Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing
0388.HK made a surprise $39 billion takeover approach, a deal
that would create a global trading powerhouse.
However, the stock, which had jumped as much as 17% on the
news, trimmed initial gains as investors took note of the
potential regulatory hurdles and the bid being conditional on
LSE ditching its $27 billion deal to buy data company Refinitiv.
"It's a bold move and one that appears to have a low chance
of success," Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson wrote.
"Given the long and ignoble history of bids for LSE we think
there is a very high bar to clear in order for this to succeed.
Whilst HKEX already has a foothold in the UK via its ownership
of the LME, the LSE is a different ball game entirely."
Asia-facing financials and mining heavyweights .FTNMX1770
were among biggest boosts on the FTSE 100 after a report said
China will introduce important measures to ease the negative
impact of the trade war with United States.
The European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest
rates in this week's policy meeting, while the U.S. Federal
Reserve is seen following suit next week as a stretch of weak
economic data have stoked fears of a recession.
"I wonder whether investors have positioned themselves to be
disappointed," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam said in relation to
some aspects of an expected stimulus plan from the ECB.
Some news working in favour of multinational stocks was a
move from China to exempt 16 types of U.S. products from
additional retaliatory tariffs. Shell, which has a secondary listing on the Amsterdam
exchange, slipped 1% after a report that the Dutch government is
set to get rid of certain deductions for multinational companies
in 2021.
In results-driven gains, Galliford Try GFRD.L , which this
week said it has restarted talks to sell its housing units to
Bovis Homes BVS.L , rose 2.4% after reporting strong margins at
Linden Homes despite Brexit-induced weakness in the market.
Smaller companies recorded some sharp moves, with Capital &
Regional CAL.L jumping 12.2% after the company said
Growthpoint Properties was in talks to buy a majority stake.
Gulf Marine Services GMS.L plunged 18% to a life low after
delaying results.