European stocks turn negative as tariff-triggered volatility persists

European stock markets turned negative after early positive trade on Friday as a volatile week for shares nears its end and concerns about a trade war between the U.S. and China persist.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was lower by 0.7%, with the U.K.’s FTSE 100 down by 0.3%, and Germany’s Dax and France’s CAC 40 also trading in negative territory by 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively, at 9 a.m. London time.

In a sign of markets taking risk off, technology, financials, industrials, and energy sectors led the market lower, while sectors perceived to be safer — utilities, health care, and consumer durables — traded higher.

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It has been a choppy week for European, and global, markets as investors have been reacting to the frequent developments in global trade policy that were set off by U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff plans.

Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs came into effect earlier this week before being temporarily dropped to a blanket 10% for 90 days to allow for trade negotiations with most of the close to 90 countries and territories targeted. Tariffs on imports from China were raised, however.

Asia-Pacific markets were last mixed. Stateside, U.S. stock futures slipped after a losing session for stocks on Thursday.