FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Rises for 4th Session

The FTSE 100 climbed by more than 0.5% on Tuesday, buoyed by advancements in the automotive and retail sectors. This optimistic trend followed President Trump's announcement of potential temporary exemptions on vehicle import tariffs, a move that could favor UK auto part manufacturers heavily exporting to the United States. Concurrently, President Trump advanced investigations into semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports, subsequently drawing attention to UK pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZeneca and GSK. In terms of economic data, UK wage growth decelerated more than anticipated, which might reduce the strain on the Bank of England. Earnings increased by 5.6% during the three months leading up to February, slightly below the predicted 5.7%, while unemployment held steady at 4.4%. Retail stocks also saw significant gains: Halfords soared 8% following an announcement that its profits were at the peak of its projected range, coupled with the appointment of a new CEO. Meanwhile, discount retailer B&M rose by as much as 7.5%, also reporting better-than-expected profits and advancements in its search for a new CEO.