European stock markets unsettled as US tariffs edge closer

European stocks fell Monday because concerns swept through financial markets, days before US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans will come into effect.

London’s FTSE 100 was lower by more than 100 points during the lows of the day. At the end, it lost 76.04 points, or 0.88%, to settle at 8,582,81.

The sale was more outspoken for other top European indices. Germany’s DAX fell 1.33%, and France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.58%.

According to experts, the fear of an increasing trade war meant that there was nowhere to hide in the stock market “with a series of global stocks trapped in panic.

Kathleen Brooks, research director of XTB, said: “There is an air of capitulation in financial markets before the April 2 -day -to -date tariff announcement of the US.

‘Tariff fear deepened last weekend, there is no stir from President Trump, who said that no country could avoid his reciprocal rates. This postponed the hope at one last moment.

“There is nowhere to hide in the stock market, as stocks are trapped in the tariff winds, which are not helped by the fact that it is the last trading day of the first quarter.”

Mr. Trump promised a ‘liberation day’ on Wednesday, when a series of rates adapted to each of the country’s trading partners will come into effect.

On the FTSE 100, shares that cover a series of industries have noticed losses, including miners and airlines.

The top indices of New York started the day on a stronger foot after a bruise Friday. The S&P 500 was about 0.5% lower, while Dow Jones lifted 0.3% when the European markets closed.

The pound weakened against the US dollar and was 0.35%lower at 1.289, when stock markets closed. Sterling was also 0.1% lower against the euro, at 1.1943.

In Company News, shares in FTSE 100-listed IAG, which owns British Airways, dropped almost 7% after the Cargier Atlantic competitor returned to profitability for the first time since 2016.

Virgin Atlantic said 2024 was a ‘turning point’ for the group because he repaid a large piece of debt and saw an increase in passenger numbers. IAG shares closed 6.6% lower.

Pets at home saw the share price by more than 10th during the day after saying that the underlying profits before tax would fall this year, thanks to its retail arm under pressure of weakness in the British pet market.

The company, which sells pets and pet products and offers veterinary and care services, also said it expects costs to walk up this year, partly due to higher wage costs and taxes. Shares in pets at home closed 8.5% lower.

The biggest takeoff on the FTSE 100 was British American Tobacco, up to 58p to 3.182p, Severn Trent, up to 35p to 2,531p, imperial brands, up to 39p to 2.865p, Smith & Nephew, higher than 14p to 1.085p, and Shell, 28,5p to 2.825p.

The largest Fallers on the FTSE 100 were IAG, down 18.5p to 260,8p, TEdain, down 34,6p to 577,8p, JD Sports, down 4.06p to 67.9p, Anglo American, Down 108,5p to 2,145p, and Glencore, Down 12.25p to 280.3p.