Fidelity Top Stories
Euro falls as ECB cuts and extends asset purchases
The European Central Bank has announced that it will continue to taper its the size of its asset purchase programme, albeit while extending it until September of next year.
Catalan president may call fresh elections for 20 December, speech delayed
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont will call fresh general elections for 20 December, according to a local news report.
Ibex 35 jumps as Catalan president said to be leaning towards elections
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is leaning towards calling regional elections, Madrid-based El Pais reported on Thursday citing sources close to the main nationalist parties.
Retail sales falling at fastest pace since 2009, while wages climb
UK retail sales are tumbling faster than at any time since the height of the financial crisis as industry pay rises faster than the rest of the economy, two industry surveys revealed on Thursday.
Catalan president argues Madrid's proposed measures are disproportionate
Catalonia's nationalist regional government has alleged before the Spanish Senate that suspending the region's autonomy is an "aberration" which will lead to an "extraordinarily grave" situation, even graver than the one the central government says it is attempting to solve.
Parliament may not vote on Brexit till after UK leaves, Davis says
Parliament may not get to vote on the terms of Brexit until after Britain has left the EU, David Davis said on Wednesday.
GDP grows more than expected to give green light for BoE rate hike
The UK economy grew slightly more than expected in the last quarter, official estimates revealed on Wednesday, paving the way for the first Bank of England interest rate hike in over a decade.
Lloyds profits and capital surge but consumer credit concerns grow
Lloyds Banking Group continued to steadily grow income, profits and capital in the third quarter to raise hopes for increased dividends - but rising loan impairments sparked renewed worries about its exposure to unsecured consumer lending.
Eurozone growth rolls on as French PMIs reach six-year high
Eurozone growth continues on a tear, with data on Tuesday showing the services sector slowing slightly and manufacturing activity accelerating.
Israel bans binary options industry
Israeli lawmarkers unanimously outlawed the country's binary options industry, which some local authorities said had links to organised crime.
Nationalist Catalan leader to take his arguments to Madrid
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont may travel to Madrid to argue against the central government's stated intent to implement article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which it was expected would see the region's autonomy partially 'intervened' until fresh elections were held.
Catalan business lobby group calls for fresh elections
Catalonia's most prominent business lobby group joined those calling on regional president Carles Puigdemont to hold fresh elections and to abstain from issuing a unilateral declaration of independence.
Latest reflation rally has good fundamentals, JP Morgan says
Don't fret if you've been left out of the latest reflation rally in stocks, strategists at JP Morgan are telling clients, because it is not too late to join in.
Spain orders elections in Catalonia in step towards autonomy suspension
Spain’s government will force elections in Catalonia in January with the support of the official opposition, in one of the first steps toward withdrawing autonomy for the region.
EU27 to prepare internally for second phase of Brexit talks
European leaders have agreed to move internal discussions on Brexit onto issues of trade and the exit transition - but not with the UK negotiating team due to the "insufficient progress" made in negotiations.
Trump tax bill clears Senate hurdle as Bush and Obama make veiled swipes
US President Donald Trump’s proposed tax reforms cleared a significant hurdle on Thursday as the Senate passed a blueprint budget for 2018, as the divisiveness under his administration faced thinly-veiled attacks from predecessors Barack Obama and George W Bush.
Public deficit shrinks further, but Chancellor likely to keep powder dry
The UK public deficit continued to shrink more than expected last month as government spending cuts continued, but the Chancellor's Budget next month is not expected to see many big fiscal giveaways.
UK retail sales weaker than forecast, adding to BoE doubts
UK retail sales fell more than expected last month, official figures confirmed on Thursday, further muddying the waters over whether the Bank of England will hike interest rates next month.
Spain expected to suspend Catalan autonomy as Puigdemont refuses to back down
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy is expected to press ahead with Article 155 to suspend autonomy for Catalonia after regional president Carles Puigdemont refused to revoke his suspended declaration of independence.
China GDP grows at steady clip in Q3, but economists anticipate slowdown
China's economy continued expanding at a steady clip last quarter, although some economists believed tighter economic policy was set to weigh on the pace of expansion.