FTSE 100 Drifts Lower Despite Strong Retail Sales Data

(RTTNews) - Despite data showing an unexpected jump in retail sales, U.K. stocks weakened on Friday with investors assessing recent policy announcements and inflation outlook from the Bank of England, the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. Oil prices extended recent fall thanks to easing concerns about supply, and this has helped limit market's downside to some extent. The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 78.87 points or 0.73% at 10,737.27 a little before noon. Airtel Africa tanked nearly 10% on reports Airtel Money's owners are considering raising less money than previously sought in the company's initial public offering.