UK stock prices fall on uncertainty over tariffs; Heathrow power failure disrupts airlines

British stocks ended lower on Friday due to continued concerns about the impact of U.S. Tariff policy. Meanwhile, a Heathrow Airport shutdown impacted travel stocks.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.6%. The FTSE 250 mid-cap index fell 0.9%.

The blue-chip index gained 0.3% despite the losses of the day. The mid-cap index ended four weeks of losses by rising 0.5%.

Heathrow Airport in Britain said that it has begun the process to reopen after an electrical fire shut down the airport's power supply for the day.

Stocks in the airline and travel industry suffered globally due to the shutdown, but they recovered some of their losses following the announcement.

IAG, the owner of British Airways, fell by as much as 4,2% and closed at 1.9% lower.

Travel and leisure fell by nearly 2%.

The week's mood was largely influenced by central banks, and policymakers around the world expressed concerns about U.S. trade policy.

Jerome Powell, the Chair of the Federal Reserve, warned that Donald Trump's policies would tilt the U.S. Economy toward slower growth and higher inflation at least temporarily.

Bank of England kept interest rates at 4.5% but warned that future reductions are unlikely due to the uncertain economic outlook.

Trump has said there will be some flexibility in tariffs ahead of the likely reciprocal duties that he will impose on April.

J D Wetherspoon's shares fell 9.4% after the pub group reported a weak interim profit as well as a poor economic outlook.

JD Sports Fashion fell 5.1% following Nike's disappointing fourth-quarter revenue forecast.

Ferrexpo, a producer of iron ore pellets, fell by 10.8% after Ukraine suspended VAT refunds.

John Wood Group shares fell 13.1% following Jefferies' downgrading of the stock from "buy" to "hold".

Next week, the UK will release its inflation data as well as the half-yearly government budget update. Reporting by Ragini Mathur and Sanchayaita in Bengaluru, Editing by Savio d'Souza and William Maclean

(source: Reuters)