Investing.com -- British stocks were lower on Friday afternoon after Donald Trump threatened a 50% tariff on the European Union, dragging down European indexes, while the British GBP/USD held at 1.35 for the first time since February 2022, supported by a weaker dollar and strong U.K. retail sales data.
The blue-chip index FTSE 100 closed over 0.2% lower after the tariff threat, erasing earlier gains.
Meanwhile, DAX index in Germany dropped 1.5%, also giving up earlier gains after the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) data showed that the economy expanded at twice the pace initially estimated in the first quarter.
The CAC 40 in France fell 1.7%.
Trump’s latest tariff threats
Donald Trump has called for a 50% tariff on goods from the EU beginning in June, claiming "discussions with them are going nowhere!"
In a statement posted Friday on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump criticized the EU as being “very difficult to deal with.”
Separately, Trump warned that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could face a similar tariff if it fails to shift iPhone production to the United States.
U.S. dollar slips
The U.S. dollar has experienced a downturn due to increasing concerns over the nation’s fiscal health. The decline comes after the House of Representatives narrowly passed President Trump’s tax and spending bill last Thursday, with only one vote to spare.
The bill is now headed to the Senate, where it is expected to face a more contentious debate. Adding to the fiscal concerns, Moody’s recently downgraded the U.S. debt ratings last week.
The agency pointed to the country’s substantial debt pile as a reason for the downgrade. The worsening fiscal health of the United States, as highlighted by Moody’s, has had a significant impact on the value of the dollar.
U.K. retail sales surge in April
U.K. retail sales saw a strong boost in April, rising 5.0% year-on-year and 1.2% month-on-month, significantly outperforming expectations.
The sharp increase suggests resilient consumer spending despite inflation, possibly supported by lower interest rates and easing global trade concerns.
March figures were also revised higher, with annual growth at 1.9% and monthly gains at 0.1%, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
AJ Bell posts strong revenue growth in H1 2025
Shares of AJ Bell PLC (LON:AJBA) rose over 8% on Friday after posting a 12% rise in pre-tax profit, reaching £68.8 million for the half-year ending March 31, 2025.
The company said that it revenue increased 17% to £153.2 million, driven by record platform inflows and increased customer engagement.
AJ Bell also saw its diluted earnings per share grow to 12.36 pence, up from 11.11 pence in the same period last year.
Ofgem cuts U.K. household energy price cap by 7%
The U.K. energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 7% reduction in the price cap for household energy bills, effective from July, to align with decreasing wholesale energy costs.
Under the revised cap, the average annual energy bill will be set at £1,720, representing a £129 decrease from the current level applied between April and June.
International Paper to close five U.K. sites
U.S.-based International Paper (NYSE:IP) announced on Friday its intention to shut down five packaging facilities in the United Kingdom (TADAWUL:4280) and reduce its workforce by up to 300 positions by year-end, following the completion of its merger with Britain’s DS Smith (LON:SMDS).
The company stated that these closures are part of strategic measures designed to enhance operational efficiency and adapt to evolving customer demands amid challenging market conditions.