European stocks were steady on Friday as investors looked for fresh catalysts amid worries over trade tariffs and recent political turmoil in France, with the government struggling to approve the budget.

European stocks fell across the board, led by automakers, as Donald Trump's tariff threat on the United States' largest trading partners prompted worries about another global trade war.

European indexes were falling on Tuesday as investors worried that Donald Trump's pledge to slap tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China could be a sign of things to come. The flagship Stoxx 600 index dropped 0.

Stellantis NV (NYSE:STLA) stock was down 5.4% at $12.64 at last glance, and earlier hit a fresh two-year low of $11.37. The shares have basically been in freefall since their March 25 record high of $29.51, and are now down 45.7% since the start of the year.

Europe's STOXX 600 dipped at the open on Wednesday, with automobile shares yet again feeling the heat from Trump's proposed trade tariffs, while a sharp fall in French lenders dragged down the country's benchmark index.

Europe’s worst-case scenario for the future of transatlantic economic relations rose to the surface this week when President-elect Donald Trump gave a clear signal that he’ll use American trade might as a means to exert foreign policy leverage.

European stock markets mostly retreated Wednesday on concerns Europe could be the next tariffs target for US president-elect Donald Trump, who has announced a tough-negotiating hawk as his trade envoy.

The euro stabilised against the US dollar on Tuesday, despite more tariff threats from US President-elect Donald Trump, targeting imports from Canada and Mexico. View on euronews