Fidelity Top Stories
Consumer-facing SMEs and estate agents in 'significant' financial distress
The number of UK companies showing signs of significant distress rose to its highest level for at least five years, insolvency experts said on Monday.
HSBC adds further buyback as interim profits beat forecast
HSBC unveiled a share buyback of up to $2bn this year alongside a better-than-expected increase in first-half profits.
Mortgage approvals hit 9m low, consumer credit demand remains strong
The number of mortgages being approved by UK banks and building societies is dropping but consumers are not reining in their demand for other forms of credit, the Bank of England revealed on Monday.
Tobacco stocks smoked as US regulator sparks nicotine-reduction plan
Big tobacco stocks got smoked on Friday as US regulators said they planned to lower nicotine levels in an effort to lower the number of tobacco-related deaths, though analysts had mixed opinion over which companies were benefiting from the plans.
Barclays slips to second quarter loss after GBP700m PPI charge
Barclays produced a mixed set of interim with some profits better and some worse than expected due in part to putting aside an extra £700m for PPI mis-selling compensation, while its pensions black hole more than doubled.
Obamacare repeal fails once again as McCain rebels
Donald Trump and Senate Republicans’ latest attempt to push through a 'skinny' version of an Obamacare repeal fell through once again on Thursday night, as three GOP senators rebelled against the bill.
UK consumer confidence slides back to levels post Brexit vote
Economic confidence among British people has deteriorated to its lowest print since the Brexit referendum, according to a widely followed survey released on Friday.
Improved upstream performance, asset disposals boost profits at Shell
A better performance at its upstream division, together with continued asset disposals, buoyed Royal Dutch Shell's bottom line during the second quarter of 2017.
Retailers enjoy sales boost from weather in July - CBI
Further survey data emerged to support reports that UK retailers are enjoying the summer, the CBI's Distributive Trades Survey said on Thursday.
UK economic growth remains lacklustre in second quarter
UK economic growth remained tepid in the second quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics, though the initial estimate for gross domestic product was in line with economists' forecasts.
Uber, Deliveroo to face questions from select committee again
Senior executives from companies including Uber and Deliveroo will be summoned for more questioning over working conditions by parliament's Business select committee, its new chair said on Tuesday.
UK govt to ban leaseholds on new build houses
The UK government on Tuesday said it would ban builders from selling new homes as leasehold and was considering cutting ground rents to zero to curb a growing national scandal that has seen new property buyers exploited.
CBI's UK industrial production survey shows mixed picture
UK industrial production in recent months increased at the fastest pace since the mid 1990s, the CBI has found, although its headline balance of total orders was lower than forecast.
Grocery price inflation eases off as Tesco growth accelerates
Supermarket prices continue to rise but are no longer accelerating, found researchers at Kantar Worldpanel, with Tesco enjoying the best of the summer but all of the 'big four' still losing market share to discounters.
IMF cuts UK and US growth forecasts, global growth to remain healthy
The International Monetary Fund has cut its growth forecast for the UK and US economies after soft performances in the first quarter of the year.
Eurozone manufacturing and services PMIs decline but remains strong
Eurozone services and manufacturing sector growth remained strong in early July, though surveys on sectors were both slightly less than expected on Monday.
Ryanair pricing warning sends airline sector into tailspin
Ryanair reported an impressive jump in quarterly profits but its warning of pricing pressures sent shares across the airline sector descending fast on Monday morning.
MasterCard wins UK class action fight, appeal may be on the cards
A class action lawsuit against Mastercard to claim for £14bn of collective damages in the UK has been rejected by a Competition Appeal Tribunal, though an appeal is being mulled.
Goldman Sachs executive urges Brexit transition deal as soon as possible
The government should seek to implement a significant transition period for Brexit from March 2019, one of Goldman Sachs’ top executives has said.
UK property transactions fall again - HMRC
The number of homes being sold in the UK has shrunk for the third month in a row, according to official figures released on Friday.