FX.co ★ UK Stocks End Higher

The FTSE 100 index posted a moderate gain of approximately 0.3% on Tuesday, closing at 8,664, as investors weighed in on developments concerning U.S. trade tariffs alongside assessing both corporate updates and economic indicators. Market sentiment showed cautious optimism following a statement from President Trump suggesting a potential softening of the tariffs imposed on U.S. trading partners, with some countries potentially receiving exemptions in the upcoming month. Concurrently, the Confederation of British Industry's latest 'distributive trades' survey highlighted a continued downturn in UK retail sales for March, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline. On a positive note, the housing sector experienced a lift, bolstered by Bellway's announcement of a robust first half, alongside a 12% increase in interim underlying pre-tax profit. Additionally, Shell witnessed an uptick in its shares after announcing an ambitious target of 4% to 5% annual sales growth in liquefied natural gas over the next five years, coupled with an enhanced shareholder distribution strategy prioritizing share buybacks, while also revising its spending forecast downward. Conversely, stocks in the retail, beverages, and leisure sectors faced downturns.