Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.16 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Here\u2019s Joe Mazzola, head trading & derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, on today\u2019s Wall Street losses:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cTariff uncertainty reigned this morning, pushing stocks to early losses and raising volatility on Wall Street.<\/p>\n Investors kept buzzing over the Supreme Court\u2019s 6-3 decision Friday to overturn President Trump\u2019s trade barriers, which threw world trade into confusion and raised questions about the durability of trade deals struck under auspices of the tariff regime.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US told in G7 trade meeting to treat Europe fairly, France says<\/p>\n G7 countries have urged the US to ensure they give European countries fair treatment, following the supreme court ruling on tariffs on Friday, France\u2019s trade ministry has revealed.<\/p>\n Afterr hosting an online meeting of G7 trade representatives today, an official from France\u2019s trade minister\u2019s office says:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cThe Europeans must be treated fairly as partners and companies need visibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Russell 2000 index, which tracks two thousand small US company stocks, has dropped by 1.8%.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n BritishAmerican Business (BAB), the transatlantic trade organization, is concerned that UK businesses will be hit by higher tariffs once Trump\u2019s new global tariff of 15% kicks in tomorrow.<\/p>\n BritishAmerican Business CEO Duncan Edwards says:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cThe new 15 per cent tariff on imports into the US, imposed under section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act means an effective 50 per cent increase in the tariff rate for most UK exporters to the USA which will come into effect tomorrow.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is clearly disappointing news and begs important questions which the UK team will need to raise with their opposite numbers and for which businesses will be hoping for answers.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, will the UK be granted a \u2018discounted\u2019 10 per cent tariff under this new Executive Order in line with the Economic Prosperity Deal? Second, will UK exporters be able to claim back tariffs that have been previously paid and how will that process work?<\/p>\n And third, what will happen when the 150 day period allowed by the Act expires?<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems to us that the answer to the third point now lies with Congress which will have to decide whether the trade policies promised by this administration during the election become enshrined in law. Given the narrow margins in both houses of Congress a definitive answer looks unlikely, so business would be wise to expect continued uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Avatrade: Tariff changes have made markets wobbly<\/p>\n Kate Leaman, chief market analyst at AvaTrade, says:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s decision last week to block President Trump\u2019s big emergency tariffs gave markets a quick lift, but his fast follow-up, has markets wobbly again today.<\/p>\n \u201cTrump bumped this from a 10% blanket tariff, skipping some energy and minerals but nailing most imports. It\u2019s spooked the EU into pausing deals and India into delays. US companies buying abroad, in tech, factories and gadgets, face fresh cost squeezes \u2013 though milder than before.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t a permanent end to trade disputes. The workaround lasts a maximum of 150 days, after which Congress will weigh in. Investors should expect further ups and downs ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n UK and US government bond prices are rising, as investors shun shares in favour of safer assets.<\/p>\n This has pushed down the interest rate, or yield, on UK 10-year bonds to their lowest level since December 2024.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a small move \u2013 10-year bond yields are down less three basis points (0.03 percentage points) to 4.327%, but the US government will certainly welcome this, as it shows the cost of issuing bonds and servicing the national debt has fallen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.40 EST<\/p>\n DJIA down almost 700 points<\/p>\n The US stock market is sliding nearly as fast as a British Winter Olympic skeleton racer<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Dow Jones industrial average is now down 681 points, or -1.37%, at 48,944 points, after an hour of trading, as traders react to the uncertainty over US tariffs and the threats emerging on Donald Trump\u2019s Truth Social account.<\/p>\n Twenty one of the thirty stocks on the index are down, led by American Express (-6.2%), Salesforce (-5.3%) and Nike (4.9%).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.41 EST<\/p>\n Trump threatens higher tariffs on countries who ‘play games’ on deals<\/p>\n A clearly fuming Donald Trump has also posted that any country who chooses to \u2018play games\u2019 with the US will face even higher tariffs.<\/p>\n In another post on Truth Social, the president says:<\/p>\n double quotation markAny Country that wants to \u201cplay games\u201d with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those that have \u201cRipped Off\u201d the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to. BUYER BEWARE!!!<\/p>\n Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not clear which countries he has in mind, but earlier today the EU did postpone the ratification of its trade deal with the US,<\/a> due the tariff uncertainty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n America\u2019s factories ended 2025 on a weak note, despite Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to revive the sector.<\/p>\n New orders for manufactured goods fell by 0.7% in December, the US Census Bureau has reported, following a 2.7% jump in November.<\/p>\n The December decrease was driven by weaker demand for transportation equipment; orders fell by 5.4% on the month.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Dow Jones industrial average is continuing to drop.<\/p>\n After almost half an hour\u2019s trading it has lost 321 points, or 0.65%, to 49,304 points.<\/p>\n Nike are among the top fallers, now down 3.8%, while business software group Salesforce has lost 4.5% and American Express is down 4.2%.<\/p>\n The S&P 500\u2019s now down 0.4%.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.59 EST<\/p>\n The apparent winners from Donald Trump\u2019s 15% tariff may not be celebrating for long.<\/p>\n Stephen Brown, deputy chief North America economist at Capital Economics explains:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhile the imposition of a new temporary baseline 15% tariff means the average US tariff rate has not fallen much, several economies \u2013 including Brazil, China and others in Asia \u2013 find themselves in much better positions.<\/p>\n This may not last, however, as the administration intends to start Section 301 investigations into potential unfair trade practices, which would enable Trump to hike tariffs again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU postpones ratification on US trade deal The European Parliament has just decided to pause the ratification process relating to the US trade deal struck with Donald Trump last July in Scotland.<\/p>\n A vote tomorrow morning in the Trade Committee has been postponed.<\/p>\n Anna Cavazzini, trade policy spokesperson for the Greens\/EFA group, comments on this decision:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cGiven the current enormous uncertainty, a vote would be unjustifiable. The new tariffs on EU exports are over 15 percent, thus violating the deal. At the same time, Trump continues to blithely announce arbitrary tariffs. This lack of trust prevents simply rubber-stamping the implementation of the US deal now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe top priority must be finding a solution for the remaining 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and related products. The ball is now in the US\u2019s court. Tariffs are extremely unpopular and have not led to the industrial jobs promised by Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nike and Gap shares hit by tariffs<\/p>\n Shares in US importers are falling in early trading, as investors digest the impact of the new 15% global tariff annouced by Donald Trump on Saturday.<\/p>\n Sportswear firm Nike are among the top fallers, down 1.8%, while clothing and accessories retailer Gap are down 3%.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Wall Street has opened lower, as investors respond to Donald Trump\u2019s new 15% tariff, and his threat of new \u2018powerful and obnoxious\u2019 ones too!<\/p>\n The Dow Jones industrial average, which tracks 30 large US companies, fell by 144 points or 0.3% at the start of trading, to 49,481 points.<\/p>\n The broader S&P 500, and the tech-focused Nasdaq, both dipped by a mere 0.07%.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Manufacturers seek urgent clarity over tariff situation<\/p>\n The confusion over whether the UK will face Trump\u2019s new 15% tariff is particularly worrying for British manufacturers who have already sent goods to America.<\/p>\n Richard Rumbelow, director of international business at Make UK, says these firms \u2018urgenty\u2019 need clarity:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cMany UK exporters will be concerned at the further prospect of trade disruption to goods entering the US market. Stability, certainty and clarity are key cornerstones for global trade policy and for UK businesses who plan, invest and conduct trade with partners across the global economy, and particularly with customers in the United States. It\u2019s now important UK exporters work with their US importers to maintain their trading relationships by working through customs guidance as it emerges<\/p>\n \u201cGiven many companies will have goods at sea clarity is now urgently required on how UK exports will be treated on arrival into the United States, with the imperative being to protect the benefits of the bi-lateral trade framework that was concluded with the United States last year. It is vital Government continues to seek gradual reductions in tariffs and other opportunities and seeks a strengthening of trade relations from the current position.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tom Knowles<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence is unlikely to affect UK unemployment rates in the long run, a policymaker at the Bank of England has suggested.<\/p>\n Alan Taylor, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets interest rates in the UK, said he can\u2019t see AI creating mass unemployment for now.<\/p>\n At an event at Deutsche Bank in London, Taylor said:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cHistory is full of people saying \u2018This new technology is going to lead to unemployment.\u2019 And yet, over the course of history, unemployment has always returned to its normal level.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are changes in the composition of the labour force but we haven\u2019t yet seen that kind of structural shift, which is not to say it can\u2019t happen, but we haven\u2019t seen it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Taylor, who was one of four out of nine members of the MPC to vote for cutting interest rates this month, said the increase in youth unemployment, which rose to an 11-year high in January excluding Covid, was cyclical and unlikely to last long-term.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cIt always goes up in cyclical ways. When the economy weakens and when unemployment is rising, usually youth unemployment rises faster. That\u2019s true across the world. So for me, it\u2019s mostly cyclical. I believe that as the economy normalises, that will start to normalise again.\u201d.<\/p>\n Taylor reiterated his previous public comments that inflation is returning to the Bank\u2019s 2% target faster than previously forecast, with wage growth also now slowing. \u201cThings are normalising at a pretty healthy clip,\u201d he said, suggesting he will vote to cut rates again at the MPC\u2019s next meeting in March.<\/p>\n He said the MPC could make two to three more interest rate cuts to get the economy back to a normal level. But he expressed concern that services inflation had not declined as quickly as expected in recent months. Services inflation slowed to 4.4% in January from 4.5% previously, according to the latest data, well below the Bank\u2019s forecast of 4.1%.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking for services price inflation to continue to normalise along with wages as the year unfolds,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771863249_69_Lisa-OCarroll-byline-004.jpg\")
Lisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\n