This FTSE sale gives me an undeniable opportunity to buy discounted UK shares!

UK stocks have had a tough run with FTSE 100 down 4.4% over the past six months. It’s up 8.81% in one year, but why the recent reversal?

As always, there are many things at play. China is huge. The world’s largest economy continues to struggle despite a number of stimulus packages from Beijing. I have seen a direct impact on the value of FTSE shares in my personal pension (SIPP).

During the boom years China consumed 60% of the world’s iron and mineral production. That source of demand has shrunk, hitting the mining giant’s earnings Glencore. Chinese consumers are also less likely to shop for a luxury fashion house Burberry. These two stocks are down 18.37% and 48.05% respectively in 12 months.

FTSE 100 is down but will come back

The preparation of Labour’s first Budget in 14 years also weighed on the FTSE, as businesses and consumers worried about tax increases. On Friday, we saw the impact on the UK economy. After rising 0.7% in Q1 and 0.5% in Q2, GDP growth slowed to just 0.1% in Q3. In September, the economy contracted by 0.1%.

The pain is likely to continue as businesses face a £25bn increase in national insurance from April. Another SIPP holding, JD Sports Fashionit slipped because of that. It employs more than 50,000 people in the UK and higher labor costs will squeeze margins. Its shares are now down 16.59% in 12 months.

The outcome of the US presidential election boosted US markets but had a mixed reception in the UK, Europe and beyond, as investors worried about Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs.

A pharmaceutical giant GSKanother participating SIPP, was hit by Trump’s move to appoint anti-vaccination activist Robert F Kennedy Jr to head the US Department of Health and Human Services. Its shares are down 12.92% for the month, and 6.59% for the year.

I will not sell any of these stocks. I believe that they are good companies that have been attacked by forces beyond their control. In time, I think they will come back.

The same applies to the consumer goods giant Unilever (LSE: ULVR). Its shares have been in recovery mode but are now down 6.68% in the last month. Thankfully, they are up 16.69% in 12 months.

Unilever’s price recovery has stumbled

On October 24, Unilever reported a 4.5% jump in third-quarter sales, led by energy products. A dove, Comfort again The Magnum. This exceeded analyst expectations of 4.2% growth.

It still expects full-year sales growth of 3% to 5% as CEO Hein Schumacher gets the business back on track “doing fewer things, better and more impactful”. However, he still has a way to go.

The obvious concern is that Unilever will be hit with US tariffs. North America contributed 19% of its total revenue last year and is one of its top three markets, along with India and China.

Another impact is on Unilever’s share price after the recent decline. I will take the opportunity to put in my stake as soon as possible. Then I go hunting for some FTSE 100 bargains, because there are a lot of them out there today.