Europe close: Stocks down as investors lower risk appetite ahead of tariff deadline

(Sharecast News) - European stocks fell for the second straight day as nervousness surrounding a looming US tariff deadline hit investors' appetites for risk.

The Stoxx 600 fell for the second straight day, finishing 0.2% lower at 540.25, with sharp falls in Frankfurt (-1.0%) and Milan (-0.6%) tempered by flat readings in Paris and Madrid and gains of 0.3% in London and Zurich.

The market's focus was beginning to turn to the 9 July deadline for president Donald Trump's trade tariffs to kick in, with mixed signals continuing from the White House. Some officials suggested there was flexibility over the deadline, while worries remains that Trump will go ahead with unilateral tariffs despite ongoing negotiations.

"Risk appetite was dampened as traders await the outcome of trade negotiations with the US, and wonder how much room there is for compromise, or even yet another deadline extension," said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.

"Last week's news that the US and China had set a framework for a deal helped to boost global risk assets. But the EU is a different proposition. It must marshal all its heads of state, some of whom have expressed a visceral dislike of the current US President, while believing it is their job to stand up to him, whatever the consequences."

Eurozone inflation picks up

In economic news, inflation across the eurozone picked up slightly in June to meet the European Central Bank's 2% target, according to data out from Eurostat. The year-on-year change in consumer prices accelerated to 2.0% last month, up from 1.9% in May and in line with economists' expectations. Over the month of June, prices were up 0.3% following no change the month before.

The increase in the annual rate was partly attributable to a pickup in services inflation to 3.3% from 3.2%, while energy price deflation eased significantly to -2.7% from -3.6%.

Nevertheless, the European Central Bank's latest period of monetary policy interventions to bring inflation in check is "done," its chief economist said on Tuesday.

"We do think the last cycle is done, bringing inflation down from the peak of 10[%], back to 2%, that element is over, but on a forward-looking basis we do need to stand ready to make sure that any deviation we see does not become embedded, does not change the medium-term picture," Philip Lane told CNBC at a conference in Portugal.

Market movers

Shares in Standard Chartered fell as the bank faced a $2.7bn lawsuit over the siphoning of funds from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund. The suit alleges that the UK-headquartered lender, which has a sizeable presence in Asia, failed to conduct necessary anti-money laundering checks.

Also in London, blue chip housebuilders Persimmon, Barratt Redrow and Taylor Wimpey all fell after data from Nationwide showed that house prices unexpectedly declined on the month in June, by 0.8%, following 0.4% growth in May. Analysts were expecting a 0.2% jump.

Elsewhere in Europe, luxury stocks were the day's best performers, including Kering, LVMH, Pernod Ricard and Christian Dior.

Meanwhile, Polish parcel locker group InPost was a heavy faller after private equity firm and part owner Advent International announced it was selling a 3.5% stake at a 6% discount to Monday's closing price.