The FTSE 100 is set to open lower today amid renewed fears over the situation in the Middle East. Meanwhile, today’s schedule also includes UK retail sales and Man Group results. 07:15 , Graeme Evans The FTSE 100 index is set to fall about 0.9% as traders react to developments in the Middle East and a weak finish for US stocks last night. Brent Crude rose by about $4 at one point to a peak of $90.75 a barrel after it emerged that Israel had launched a missile strike against Iran. The benchmark has since settled at $88.78, while the safe haven asset of gold is near $2382 an ounce after earlier surging above a record $2400. Asia markets fell sharply this morning, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 down by more than 2% and the Hang Seng index 1.5% lower. The selling also reflected a late retreat on Wall Street as the S&P 500 index finished 0.2% lower and the Nasdaq Composite lost another 0.5% to continue the run that’s left the tech-focused benchmark at a two-month low. 07:06 , Daniel O'Boyle UK retail sales were flat in March, as food sales fell, in a new sign of sluggishness in the...