Tariff Shocks & Rate Jitters Ignite Wild 48 Hours in European Markets
European stocks hit three-week lows Thursday, then rebounded Friday as the STOXX 600 fell 0.7% before rising 0.3%. U.S. President Trump’s new tariffs on drugs and trucks triggered a 2% drop in major pharma and truck stocks. The Bank of England warned on persistent UK inflation, while the ECB and Swiss National Bank held rates steady. Germany’s consumer confidence improved; Spain’s GDP beat forecasts.