Is the phenyl group in benzophenone electron donating/withdrawing?
A keto or an aldo group with phenyl ring is less reactive towards nucleophillic addition then their aliphatic counterparts(acetaldehyde or acetone).With phenyl group the positive charge on carbonyl carbon is delocalised via resonance (structures  2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) .


Resonance with phenyl ring is due to conjugation.


such conjugation is absent in aliphatic aldehydes and ketones.Therefore carbonyl compounds with phenyl rings bonded to carbonyl group are less reactive then their aliphatic counterparts.

With respect to + carbon on carbonyl group pi electrons on phenyl group are polarized towards it , in a way electron donating .