FTSE 100 Struggles For Direction As Retail Sales Tumble BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks were struggling for direction on Friday, with rising bond yields, retail sales data and corporate news in focus. The benchmark FTSE 100 was marginally lower at 6,615 after falling as much as 1.4 percent on Thursday. NatWest Group rose over 1 percent after confirming that it will withdraw from the Republic of Ireland. Daily Mail And General surged 5.3 percent after announcing the sale of its education technology business. Civitas Social Housing edged up slightly after securing a new seven year term, interest only, loan facility of £84.55m from M&G Investment Management Limited.