48 m. ago Trump's approval rating takes a hit amid tariff war and market turmoil

Like the stock market this week, President Donald Trump 's approval rating is sliding downward.

Events

3 h. ago $2,150 for an iPhone? Trump tariffs are ‘category 5 price storm’

US is not set up to supply mobile phones and would cost estimated $30bn to move just 10% of chain from ChinaThe AI-generated video of tired-looking Americans making mobile phones, which circulated widely on social media this week, was a pointed vision of a post-tariff world. But Donald Trump wants it to become reality for Apple.The iPhone maker is one of the biggest victims of the US president’s realignment of the global trading order because its flagship product is assembled in the epicentre of Trump’s protectionist ire – China. Continue reading...

Economics

4 h. ago Criticise Trump’s tariffs all you like, but western sanctions aren’t any better – just ask Syria | Simon Jenkins

This form of economic aggression is macho and myopic, yet countries including the UK refuse to give it upAmong the more improbable countries that Donald Trump punished most severely last week was Syria, with a 41% tariff in retaliation for its part in the “raping and plundering” of the US economy. That should teach it a lesson for toppling Bashar al-Assad last year.The Damascus regime that subsequently came to power is pleading for help in keeping order and restoring its economy. But the chief obstacle is not Trump’s absurd tariff – now reduced to 10%. It is the sanctions regime imposed on it for the past 14 years by the west, including Britain. The US prohibits nearly all trade and financial transactions, extending this to foreign companies engaged with the Syrian government. EU sanctions targeted crude oil, investments, banking, telecoms and more. No tariff could be as severe as this.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Trump’s tariffs are ruinous, but are western sanctions any better? Just look at Syria | Simon Jenkins

Sanctions as a form of economic aggression are macho and myopic, yet countries including the UK refuse to call a haltAmong the more improbable countries that Donald Trump punished most severely last week was Syria, with a 41% tariff in retaliation for its part in the “raping and plundering” of the US economy. That should teach it a lesson for toppling Bashar al-Assad last year.The Damascus regime that subsequently came to power is pleading for help in keeping order and restoring its economy. But the chief obstacle is not Trump’s absurd tariff – now reduced to 10%. It is the sanctions regime imposed on it for the past 14 years by the west, including Britain. The US prohibits nearly all trade and financial transactions, extending this to foreign companies engaged with the Syrian government. EU sanctions targeted crude oil, investments, banking, telecoms and more. No tariff could be as severe as this.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in th...

Politics

5 h. ago ‘The damage is done’: Why Trump’s tariff pause has not stopped the risk of global recession

Even with a 90-day halt on aggressive tariff hikes, leading economists say uncertainty has already caused considerable harm

Events

5 h. ago The Wolf of Wall Street claims Trump isn’t guilty of market manipulation after tariff U

Jordan Belfort, who previously admitted to stock manipulation himself, has given his verdict on Trump’s trade war

Politics

7 h. ago GDP jump offers Rachel Reeves some light as UK enters Trump tariff tunnel

Growth defied forecasts that chancellor had hobbled economy, but trade war casts long shadowUK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5%Business live – latest updatesEarlier this year Rachel Reeves was being written off for having jeopardised Britain’s economy. The chancellor’s tax-raising autumn budget had sapped business investment, spooked the financial markets and put the jobs market at risk.The latest official figures showing stronger-than-expected economic growth of 0.5% in February will therefore come as a boost for the embattled chancellor, in a sign that the economy was in better health than her critics claimed. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Ministers focused on US trade deal, despite signal tariffs will go no lower

Kevin Hassett, a senior economic adviser to Donald Trump, suggested the blanket 10% tariff rate most countries now face was likely to be a ‘baseline’.

Politics

9 h. ago 'Wolf of Wall Street' gives his view on whether Trump is committing insider trading with tariff trade war

Stocks soared on Trump's tariffs pause with the S&P500 closing up 9.5%, while the market gained back about $4 trillion, or 70%, of the value it had lost over the previous four trading days

Politics

9 h. ago UK economy grows faster than expected in February as Trump tariff threat looms

The figures are a positive for Labour, but economists said growth will likely be hampered by the US trade war in the coming months.

Politics

10 h. ago FTSE 100 opens higher as Macron warns Trump tariff suspension only a ‘fragile pause’ – business live

European markets open following a mixed picture across Asia with the Nikkei showing another fallUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsLife in Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, goes on but anti-US sentiment is hardeningThe US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago UK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5% in boost to Rachel Reeves

February GDP rise bigger than forecast but impact from Donald Trump’s tariff war yet to comeBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK economy unexpectedly expanded by 0.5% in February, figures show, in a boost for Rachel Reeves before an expected downturn triggered by Donald Trump’s tariff war.Reversing a modest fall in January of 0.1%, the increase in gross domestic product in February was five times larger than the 0.1% growth that a poll of City economists had forecast. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Donald Trump's tariff wars feared to send Adidas Samba prices soaring in UK

Adidas Sambas trainers are set to increase after President Trump's brand new tariffs regulations where some of Brits favourite trainers are set to rise as the UK take a hit

Politics

12 h. ago Trump tariff suspension only a ‘fragile pause’, says Macron, as gold soars amid market jitters – business live

Nikkei plunges 5.4% but other Asian markets see mixed results as some reverse many of historic rally’s gains after US president’s tariffs reprieveUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsLife in Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, goes on but anti-US sentiment is hardeningThe US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Economics

13 h. ago The big lesson for Europe? Trump backed down under pressure | Alexander Hurst

The EU neither ‘kissed ass’ nor unleashed its most powerful trade weapon. Now it must provide the world with an alternative to US chaosMy condolences to everyone who spent days trying to play 5D chess with Donald Trump’s market-exploding tariff mess. Where Trump is involved, there is a cloud of malevolent chaos, and there is grift amid the chaos. What grandmasters there are to be found are almost certainly grandmasters of grift.When markets dump $10tn in three days and then gain trillions back in a single afternoon on the erratic decisions of one deeply corrupt person, you can be sure that a small number of people have made immense sums of money out of that volatility. Were the people responsible for abnormal spikes buying into the markets (including call options on various indexes and exchange-traded funds) on Wednesday morning – and again, 20 minutes before the tariff announcement went public – extraordinarily lucky? Were they in the right Signal group? Or were they just simply fo...

Politics

17 h. ago Trump admits ‘transition cost’ of tariffs as global markets sink again – business live

US stocks tumble once more after historic rally following US president’s shock retreat on ‘reciprocal’ tariffsUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsIn the UK, shoppers stayed away from the high street in March, a situation retailers said could worsen if the economic gloom caused by Donald Trump’s tariff war hits consumer confidence.Footfall fell 5% in March to extend a downturn in February that retailers said could be attributed to a recent rise in inflation and pressure on pay packets since a brief revival during the January sales.Global uncertainties resulting from tariffs and a potential economic slowdown could reduce the appetite for shopping trips in the coming months. Continue reading...

Economics

18 h. ago UK would need ‘extraordinary’ deal to go below 10% tariff, Trump adviser says

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government still hopes an economic deal with America can be reached.

Economics

21 h. ago Toy company CEO issues dire warning about Christmas amid Trump tariff hikes

The U.S. company says 80 percent of its toys are manufactured in China

Events

21 h. ago Trump has slowed his global tariff plan. Here’s what happens next and the impact on your wallet

The president caught the world – and most of his administration – off guard with his sudden announcement that he was pausing tariffs

Politics

22 h. ago Trump called a cabinet meeting after walking back his tariff plans. It might as well have been held in Moscow

ANALYSIS: Trump’s cabinet meetings have turned into North Korean-style propaganda shows, writes Richard Hall

Politics