Investing.com — British stocks turned lower after opening higher on Tuesday while the pound slipped as markets resumed trading after the Easter break with investors focused on U.S. President Donald Trump’s Iran deadline, while European markets traded mixed.
As of 12:07 GMT, the blue-chip index fell 0.2% and the British dropped 0.02% against the dollar to 1.3241.
index in Germany was down 0.06, the in France turned flat.
UK round up
UK service sector activity growth weakened sharply in March, with the S&P Global UK Services PMI Business Activity Index falling to 50.5 from 53.9 in February, marking the slowest expansion in 11 months, according to data released Tuesday.
The reading came below the earlier flash estimate of 51.2 and represented the weakest rise in output since April 2025. Service providers linked the slowdown to falling business and consumer spending amid concerns about the war in the Middle East.
New business declined for the first time since November 2025, with the pace of contraction the sharpest in eight months. Export sales fell at the fastest rate since April 2025 as regional instabilities and rising global economic uncertainty weighed on client confidence and delayed investment decisions.
Preliminary industry figures released on Tuesday showed that new car registrations in the UK rose by about 6% in March.
Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales hit a record level during the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, with the segment accounting for roughly 23% of total registrations—still short of the government’s 33% target for 2026.
(LON:SMWH) announced that Leo Quinn has assumed the role of Executive Chair, following shareholder approval at the company’s General Meeting on March 12.
Andrew Harrison stepped down from the Board with immediate effect and will resume his position as CEO of the Group’s UK division.