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U.K. stocks were struggling for direction on Friday, with rising bond yields, retail sales data and corporate news in focus. <\/p>\n
The benchmark FTSE 100 was marginally lower at 6,615 after falling as much as 1.4 percent on Thursday.<\/p>\n
NatWest Group rose over 1 percent after confirming that it will withdraw from the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n
Daily Mail And General surged 5.3 percent after announcing the sale of its education technology<\/span> business<\/span>.<\/p>\n Civitas Social Housing edged up slightly after securing a new seven year term, interest only, loan facility of \u00a384.55m from M&G Investment Management Limited.<\/p>\n Segro advanced 1.6 percent as it reported a 62 percent rise in 2020 pretax profit on the back of increased property valuations.<\/p>\n U.K. retail sales volume declined sharply in January as tighter nationwide coronavirus<\/span> restrictions affected demand, the Office for National Statistics said.<\/p>\n Retail sales volume decreased 8.2 percent month-on-month, in contrast to a 0.4 percent rise seen in December. Economists had forecast a 2.5 percent fall.<\/p>\n Year-on-year, retail sales fell 5.9 percent, in contrast to a 3.1 percent rise in December. Economists had forecast a marginal decrease of 1.3 percent.<\/p>\n The U.K. budget balance showed its biggest deficit for January on record due to higher government spending amid the pandemic, another report showed. <\/p>\n U.K. PMI numbers will be out later in the day. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n