FX.co ★ UK Stocks Fall on Thursday

UK stocks witnessed a decline on Thursday, reflecting similar downturns across European markets, as President Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars negatively impacted the automotive sector. The FTSE 100 fell approximately 0.6%, although it outperformed other European indices, which are more vulnerable to U.S. trade policies. Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, speaking in Cardiff following the spring statement, described the US-UK trade discussions as a "delicate moment" but reassured that the UK has no intentions of retaliating. Within the FTSE 250, Aston Martin experienced a 7.1% drop, affected by the tariff announcement, whereas fashion retailer Next surged by 9% after announcing annual sales and profit growth that met projections. Next's positive performance also buoyed Marks & Spencer, leading to a 3.8% gain.