Fidelity Top Stories
Italian President calls elections for 4 March
Italians will head to the polls again on 4 March, 2018, it has been decided, and perhaps again towards the middle of the same year, according to analysts.
UK M&A market remain stable in 2017 as domestic deals mushroom
UK mergers and acquisitions shrank slightly in 2017, though the number of domestic deals rose to a nine-year high with a total value that almost doubled year-on-year to £51bn as companies prepared for the post-Brexit unknown.
Theresa May urged to withdraw Tory whip over "disloyal" Brexit comments
Prime Minister Theresa May is being pressured by Brexit supporters to withdraw Conservative whip from Michael Heseltine over his "disloyal comments" suggesting that a Jeremy Corbyn government would be better than Brexit.
Mortgages for UK house purchases fall to 15-month low, business borrowing falls too
Numbers of UK mortgages have fallen for a third month in a row to a 15-month low, while businesses were reluctant to borrow amid economic uncertainty, industry figures showed on Thursday.
UK businesses finish year well but see slow start to 2018
Services, manufacturing and retail companies all enjoyed better growth in the last quarter of 2017, according to a survey from the CBI released on Thursday, though growth is expected to be very slow in the coming quarter.
Bitcoin drops 17% as Seoul closes in on cryptocurrency crackdown
A warning from Seoul that it was studying potential measures, including shutting down some cryptocurrency exchanges, to stamp out excessive and potentially costly speculation, put paid to a four-day rebound in Bitcoin from its worst week since 2013.
Governments may act if Bitcoin prices triple, Citi says
It's hard to say how high Bitcoin prices may rise, but many signs point to it being just a bubble and government action against it - possibly should prices triple - will likely determine its peak value, analysts at Citi told clients.
Citi projects modest weakness in the US dollar in 2018
Foreign exchange strategists at Citi retained a 'bearish' view on the Greenback in 2018, predicting it would weaken by roughly 5% against other G10 currencies over the next six to 12 months and on average by between 1% and 2% against those from Emerging Markets.
Shell expects to gain from Trump's US tax changes
Royal Dutch Shell said it expects changes to US tax law to benefit the company and its US operations.
UK GDP growth of 0.4% in third quarter funded as households reduce savings
UK national growth was confirmed as remaining lacklustre in the third quarter, though a large upward revision in the impact of exports meant the contribution from consumers was smaller than originally thought.
Turmoil for Spain as Catalan pro-independence parties win regional majority
Catalan separatist parties have won a narrow but absolute majority in the regional elections, confirming the worst fears of the Madrid central government and European stock markets.
First exit poll shows slight lead for Catalan pro-independence parties
The three main pro-Catalan independence parties will most likely retain a very slight simple majority in the regional parliament, according to an exit poll conducted by Gad 3 for local daily La Vanguardia.
Shell moves into household supply with First Utility acquisition
Oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell inked an agreement on Thursday that would see it acquire 100% of British household energy and broadband provider First Utility in the New Year.
McCarthy & Stone considers actions to reduce impact of government crackdown
McCarthy & Stone said it would renegotiate land prices and deals with local authorities and review prices and management fees if the government includes it in a crackdown on ground rents for leasehold properties.
IMF says Brexit has weakened UK economy
Brexit has weakened Britain's economy, which has slowed despite strong global growth and low interest rates, the International Monetary Fund said.
Bank of England finds labour shortages and weaker spending
Labour shortages increased while spending by consumers and businesses weakened in the fourth quarter, the Bank of England reported.
Tesco's takeover of Booker gets competition clearance
The competition regulator has cleared Tesco's contentious £3. 7bn takeover of Booker after a seven-month investigation.
LSE shareholders reject attempt to oust chairman Brydon
London Stock Exchange shareholders have voted down an activist investor's attempt to sack LSE chairman Donald Brydon.
Ramaphosa's election boosts South African-exposed shares
Shares in Anglo American, Old Mutual and Lonmin rose after the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as leader of South Africa's ruling ANC party.
US blames North Korea for May cyber-attack
The White House claimed that North Korea was "directly responsible" for the WannaCry malware attack that hit more than 30,000 computers in hospitals, businesses and banks across 150 nations in May and caused billions of pounds in damage.