UK stocks muted near multi-week highs as retail sales, consumer sentiment sag

Core Viewpoint - UK stocks experienced a pause on Friday, remaining near multi-week highs, influenced by a decline in homebuilder shares due to recent retail sales and consumer sentiment data indicating an economic slowdown [1] Group 1: Market Performance - UK stocks are near multi-week highs, suggesting a period of relative stability in the market [1] - Weakness in homebuilder shares has been a significant factor affecting overall market performance [1] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Recent retail sales data pointed towards a potential economic slowdown, impacting investor sentiment [1] - Consumer sentiment data also reflected concerns about the economic outlook, contributing to the decline in homebuilder shares [1]