European stocks decline as US tariff deadline looms

European stocks fell on Monday as investors closely watched an upcoming U.S. tariff deadline. The Iseq All-Share Index dropped 1.3 percent, closing at 10,720.23. Both AIB and Bank of Ireland saw similar losses, losing around 1.7 percent. In the housing sector, results were mixed, with Cairn Homes rising slightly while Glenveagh experienced a small decline. In the UK, the FTSE 100 index edged down 0.1 percent, although some mining stocks gained ground. The pharmaceutical and biotech sectors struggled, led by a 1.3 percent drop in AstraZeneca. On the other hand, industrial metal miners rose 1.6 percent as copper prices increased. JPMorgan upgraded the European mining sector, positively affecting stocks like Anglo American and Glencore. Investors are very focused on the U.S. tariff deadline on April 2, where President Trump is expected to announce new tariffs. Recent hints from U.S. officials suggest the tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared, yet uncertainty remains. In the U.S., the S&P 500 index rose 1.49 percent, supported by gains in technology shares like Nvidia and Tesla. Tesla surged by 10 percent, bouncing back from recent losses thanks to optimism over reduced tariffs. Overall, market sentiment improved despite ongoing concerns about tariffs, with some analysts believing that a weaker dollar could help U.S. companies in the long run.