The FTSE 100 traded lower for a second consecutive day, dropping 0.9% on Tuesday after a 0.4% decline on Monday, marking its worst two-day performance since November. Investors are unsettled by renewed trade tensions, tariff concerns linked to President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, and turmoil in Japanese government bonds, which has spilled over into global markets. UK economic data added to the cautious mood. Wage growth held at 4.7%, while unemployment remained at 5.1%, its highest level since 2021, signalling a cooling labour market. More concerning, UK firms cut jobs at the fastest pace since 2020, and payroll data showed a 43,000 drop in employment in December, double expectations. Despite this, traders barely adjusted their expectations for Bank of England rate cuts, with markets seeing little chance of a reduction in interest rates in the coming months.
DAX Falls for 3rd Day
The DAX 40 was down for a third day on Tuesday, falling over 1% to around 24,700, the lowest since early January, amid escalating transatlantic tensions and renewed tariff uncertainty. President Donald Trump is further raising his stakes on Greenland, and tensions with European countries are rising, with threats of 200% tariffs on wine and champagne.
