U.S. financial markets experienced a volatile week, largely influenced by geopolitical developments in the Middle East and fluctuations in energy prices. Investor sentiment was driven primarily by external events rather than domestic fundamentals.
According to a survey of over 13,000 members conducted by the AA, an estimated 21.7 million journeys are expected across the UK on Thursday, making this one of the busiest Easters in recent years.
Jim Ratcliffe stated that excessive taxation risks damaging domestic industry, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to energy policy that balances affordability with environmental goals.
The UK is set to be among the countries worst hit if US President Donald Trump's 15% global tariff goes ahead, analysis has suggested. The British Chamber of Commerce told the BBC the UK would "sit towards the bottom of league table" of trade partners if Trump's announcement came into effect on Tuesday. On Friday, the US Supreme Court outlawed most of the global tariffs that Trump had announced last year, saying the president had overstepped his powers.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
A spokesperson for Downing Street said: The UK government is working with the US to understand how the overturning of Donald Trump's tariffs by the supreme court will affect the UK but expects our privileged trading position with the US to continue. The UK was the first to strike a tariff deal with the US, with 10% tariffs on all imports from Britain, compared with a blanket 15% rate for the EU.
'That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ongoing export costs and delays,' says Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T. 'It was not only to EU destinations that export costs rose. 'Costs for shipping to the USA and other international destinations also rose year-on-year. 40.5% of retailers and 36.1% of manufacturers reported their global exports cost them more in December than in the same month of 2024. Trump's tariffs, introduced last April, played a role in this overall increase.
Nucor ( ) has delivered strong returns since President Trump imposed tariffs on imported steel last year. The stock has climbed 16% year-to-date in 2026 and gained 41% over the past 12 months, outperforming broader market indices amid protected domestic pricing. Higher tariffs - reaching up to 50% - shielded U.S. producers from cheap foreign imports, boosting revenues for companies like Nucor. However, reports indicate Trump is now considering scaling back these measures.
