London stocks retreat as U.S.-China tensions weigh

(Reuters) - UK shares fell for the first time this week on Friday, as fears over Washington's response to Beijing tightening control over Hong Kong overshadowed optimism about a pickup in business activity with the easing of a coronavirus-induced lockdown.The blue-chip FTSE 100 was down 0.9%, with BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc among the biggest drags, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 shed 0.8% to snap a nine-day winning streak.Banks tracked a decline in gilt yields as investors fled to..