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UK investors loaded up on US stocks prior to Trump tariff turmoil, data shows

British investors piled into U.S. stocks in the weeks leading up to President Donald Trump's announcement of a barrage of trade tariffs last week that sent stocks tanking, funds network Calastone said on Tuesday. North American equities - comprising mainly of U.S.-focused funds - netted 1.8 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) of inflows from UK investors in March, their third-best month in the 10-year data set, as investors tried to "buy the dip" following a weak start to the year for U.S. shares, Calastone said. A seasonal shift into stocks in the UK every March - to take advantage of tax breaks ahead of the end of the UK's tax year on April 5 - also helped fuel the buying.

Ray of hope or false dawn for markets?

European investors still staggering from a nearly 12% plunge over three days in their regional stock benchmark are waking up to a futures market pointing more than 3% higher. President Donald Trump has hardly backed down in his assault on perceived trade disparities, even doubling down on China by threatening additional 50% levies that would take the combined total well above 100%. All of this raises suspicions of whether the bounce in markets will last, and even a 3% rebound in the STOXX 600 wouldn't make up much of the rout since Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement last Wednesday.