Europe Markets: U.K. stocks and U.S. futures fall as Trump threatens China with tariffs and earnings spook investors

Europe Markets: U.K. stocks and U.S. futures fall as Trump threatens China with tariffs and earnings spook investors

U.K. stocks and U.S. futures fall as Trump threatens China with tariffs and earnings spook investors. British stocks and U.S. futures moved lower early on a quiet Friday as investors digested earnings warnings, gloomy economic data and the potential resumption of U.S.-China trade tensions.. historic dividend cut - its first since World War II - led to heavy losses on Thursday and the mood continued into Friday.. Profits halved in the first quarter , as the part state-owned bank set aside £802 million for bad loans amid the coronavirus crisis.. Earnings beat expectations and the stock rose 4.6% but it wasn't enough to improve sentiment across the market.. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: "The FTSE extended losses on Friday as investors turned their backs on mining, travel and financial stocks.. Weighing on stocks were renewed tensions between the U.S. and China, with Donald Trump claiming to have evidence that coronavirus started in a Chinese lab stoking fears that another trade spat will emerge.". Amazon shares fell 4.8% in premarket trading as the e-commerce giant topped $75 billion in sales in the first quarter but reported a profit decline, and it may lose money