Market Overview

Following the extended Easter weekend, European stock markets predominantly opened lower this Tuesday. The downturn is attributed to ongoing concerns over United States President Donald Trump's trade policies, which continue to unsettle investors globally.

Key Movements

The DAX saw a decline of 0.21% by 9:00 am CET, with Siemens Energy AG experiencing a notable drop of 3.81%. Similarly, the CAC 40 and the Euro Stoxx 50 decreased by 0.14% and 0.27% respectively, spotlighting Stellantis NV's significant 5.45% fall within these indexes. Conversely, the FTSE 100 bucked the trend with a 0.14% rise at opening, buoyed by Babcock International Group PLC's 1.85% gain.

Currency Fluctuations

Currency markets reflected the cautious sentiment, with the euro dipping 0.14% against the dollar to $1.14998 by 8:58 am CET. In contrast, the pound appreciated by 0.07% against the dollar, trading at $1.33887.

Trade Deal Expectations

Amidst these market movements, President Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement with the European Union before the expiration of the current 90-day tariff delay, a statement made during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to the White House.