India, June 19 -- British stocks edged lower on Friday despite stronger-than-expected retail sales figures, as investors focused on worsening public finances, political developments following Andy Burnham's by-election victory, and renewed uncertainty surrounding Middle East diplomacy. The FTSE 100 lagged behind major European markets, reflecting concerns over the UK's fiscal outlook and growing speculation about the future leadership of the Labour Party.

UK Retail Sales Beat Expectations in May

The UK economy received a boost after retail sales volumes rose by 1.2% in May, significantly above economists' expectations of a 0.5% increase. According to official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the rebound followed a 1% ...