"Exemptions on steel/aluminium tariffs have already been granted for other important trade partners (Canada, Mexico, EU), which suggests the US president is using this approach more for negotiating leverage rather than any real intention to start a global trade war", wrote Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, noting a "measured" and "nuanced" response from China so far. Spain's IBEX was also up 0.2pc despite renewed tensions surrounding the political situation of the Catalonia region.

Source: Irish Independent March 26, 2018 07:41 UTC