Fidelity Top Stories
Hammond raises prospect of public spending increases
Philip Hammond held out the prospect of increases to public spending as he set out improved short-term figures for UK economic growth and the public finances, including lower than expected government borrowing in 2017-18.
Trump fires Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, CIA chief Pompeo set to replace him
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is out of the White House after a series of disagreements with President Donald Trump.
Antofagasta ups dividend 177% as strike action looms
Antofagasta increased its dividend 177% for last year as cash flow surged on the group's highest operating margin in five years, though the world’s largest copper producer is facing strike action at its Los Pelambres mine.
Melrose sweetens GKN bid to £8.1bn
Turnaround specialist Melrose Industries has upped its offer for engineer GKN to 467p per share, or £8. 1bn, from £7. 4bn.
Trump could win Democrats' support as Republicans consider blocking tariffs
Influential Democratic lawmaker Elizabeth Warren may tip the balance in favour of the White House’s planned international trade tariffs amid divisions within the Republican party on the measures.
US non-farm payolls rise by 313,000 in February, wages dip
Job growth in the States picked-up to its strongest pace since mid-2016 last month, helped by sharp increases in construction and government hiring, but wage growth fell short of economists' forecasts.
Yen gains as Kuroda says BoJ has no intention of changing policy
Rate-setters in Tokyo kept all their main policy settings unchanged following their meeting on Friday, with Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuroda stressing that there would be no change in policy until its 2% inflation target was met.
Donald Trump agrees to meet Kim Jong-un in May
Donald Trump has accepted a North Korean invitation to hold a meeting with leader Kim Jong-un in May. There are hopes that the talks will reduce tensions between both countries and lead to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
UK manufacturing growth slows at start of 2018 - ONS
Slower UK manufacturing activity held back industrial outback from bouncing back as much as was hoped at the start of 2018.
UK to apply for exemption from Trump's steel tariffs
Downing Street will ask the White House for an exemption to his sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to the United States after Donald Trump offered to show "great flexibility" to his "real friends".
Rise in China CPI to early-2013 high expected to be short-lived
Chinese consumer prices surged last month, but economists expected the acceleration to be short-lived, paving the way for monetary policy to be eased in the Asian giant later in 2018.
ECB vows to extend QE past September if needed
The European Central Bank kept all its main policy settings unchanged and reiterated that its asset purchase programme may run past September, if needed, contrary to some analysts' expectations.
Aviva ups growth targets after completing simplification process
Life insurer Aviva grew earnings per share 7% and the dividend 18% for 2017 and has upgraded its growth targets for 2018 and beyond, though a slip in Canada and perhaps the shape of capital returns were a disappointment to some investors.
Rolls-Royce profits and cash flow soar above forecasts
Engine maker Rolls-Royce reported profits and cash flow well above expectations for 2017 thanks to improved revenues and a vigorous cost-saving programme, even though cash was hit by costly reliability issues in its Trent 1000 and Trent 900 models.
EU rejects UK's plan for post-Brexit trade
The European Union has rejected Britain’s proposals for post-Brexit trade, according to the bloc's draft negotiating position.
White House economic adviser steps down, China's IP practices probed
The White House's top economic adviser stepped down from his role in protest over the US president's plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and amid news that the Office of the US Trade Representative was investigating China's practices with regards to intellectual property.
North Korean says it might support denuclearisation of Korean peninsula
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and envoys for South Korean President Moon Jae-in held "open hearted talks" in Pyongyang on Tuesday, with both countries agreeing to hold a summit in April and Pyongyang reportedly open to the denuclearisation of the peninsula - if it received credible security guarantees .
Smurfit Kappa rejects bid approach from International Paper
Smurfit Kappa has rejected an "unsolicited and highly opportunistic" takeover approach for Europe's biggest cardboard box maker from International Paper of the US.
Pound jumps after May says UK is getting 'closer' to a Brexit-transition deal
The pound jumped by half a percentage point against the dollar on Monday afternoon after the Prime Minister said officials were getting closer to securing a Brexit-transition deal with the European Union.
Builders not bricking it as May's housing threats fall flat
Unveiling reforms to property planning legislation, Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to come down like a tonne of bricks on housebuilder that "sit on land" and on developers than try to avoid building affordable homes.