London, Jan 19, 2026, 12:26 GMT — Regular session
- London shares slip amid tariff tensions surrounding Greenland; M&G dips slightly in volatile trading
- This week’s UK jobs, inflation, and retail sales reports will keep rates and sterling under the microscope
- M&G is trading close to recent highs, with its upcoming quarterly results set to be the next key event.
M&G Plc (MNG.L) edged down on Monday, staying close to last week’s peaks as fresh tariff worries rattled London markets. The share price slipped 0.2% to 298.7 pence, after fluctuating between 295.4 and 300.5 pence, with around 1.6 million shares changing hands. Valued at roughly £7.1 billion, the FTSE 100 insurer and asset manager offers an implied yield near 6.6%. Its rivals Legal & General, Aviva, and Phoenix Group also faced losses. 1
The broader market took a hit after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on Britain and seven other European countries unless the U.S. could buy Greenland. He warned a 10% tariff would kick in on Feb. 1, jumping to 25% by June 1 if no deal is reached. The FTSE 100 slid about 0.6%, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.9% in late morning trading. 2
M&G faces pressure as volatile markets threaten fee income and could cause clients to hold back fresh investments. Traders are on edge ahead of key UK data releases on employment, inflation, and retail sales. “Sterling investors are nervously looking at some of the upcoming data,” said Kit Juckes, Societe Generale’s chief FX strategist. Adding to the jitters, Trump’s scheduled appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday poses a near-term risk to market sentiment. 3
Stocks dipped across Europe as investors wrestled with the tariff threat and the risk of retaliation. ING economists noted the case for higher tariffs seemed “more political and less economic” now. Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com, added that Trump’s weekend action had “reintroduced trade uncertainty.” 4
M&G’s stock barely moved on the news. Investors still view it as an income play, especially when markets are stable, but it can shift from defensive to vulnerable without warning.
The sensitivity here isn’t subtle. If trade threats escalate into a real growth scare, risk assets will reprice sharply, flipping the mood on savings, pensions, and asset values almost overnight.
Rates move in both directions. While falling gilt yields can boost bond prices briefly, they also shift expectations for new business pricing and influence how customers manage their cash.
The downside is straightforward: a sharper drop in equities would cut assets under management and squeeze fee income. Rising volatility tends to push credit spreads wider, a big deal for firms with large bond holdings.
This week, investors will focus on the UK data releases and any fresh cues from Davos. M&G is set to announce its full-year 2025 results on March 12. 5
