Europe stocks close lower, cementing March loss as tariff uncertainty persists
European markets traded sharply lower on Monday as global investors braced for U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs to come into force.
The regional Stoxx 600 index closed 1.51% lower, with nearly all sectors and major bourses firmly in negative territory. The final trading day of March marks the Stoxx 600′s first losing month of the year, with a loss of nearly 3%, according to LSEG data. However, in 2025 so far the index continues to outperform the U.S. S&P 500, which is on course to drop more than 6% in March.
The global sell-off comes ahead of a raft of Trump tariffs set to come into effect on Wednesday, including a 25% levy on “all cars that are not made in the United States.”
The president is also expected to announce his plan for reciprocal tariffs. The Trump administration has dubbed April 2 — the day when Trump’s tariffs come into force and more sectoral levies are expected to be announced — “Liberation Day.”
Source: CNBC
