Fidelity Top Stories
US-China trade deal nearing completion, says Politico
A deal to resolve the long-running trade war between the United States and China is "largely complete", according to a source cited by Politico.
US monetary policy needs to be especially data-dependent now, Fed's Clarida says
The US central bank's second-highest ranking official reiterated the case for patience in judging the Federal Reserve's next moves on interest rates, while highlighting that inflation expectations were near the lower bound of the range which he believed was consistent with policymakers' mandate to pursue stable prices.
Trump-Kim talks break down over sanctions row
Th Vietnam summit between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke down on Thursday after the latter requested that all sanctions against it be lifted, according to Trump.
China factory PMI slows further in February, most details weak
A widely-followed survey of factory sector conditions in the world's third-largest economy softened further last month.
US wants "significant structural change" in trade relationship with China, Lighthizer says
The US administration seeks "significant structural changes" in its trade relationship with China, America's trade czar told Congress.
Pakistan claims to have shot down two Indian jets over Kashmir border
Pakistani officials claimed the country's armed forces had shot down two Indian jets on Wednesday over its own territory, capturing at least one of the pilots.
GCHQ director calls for caution regarding China's tech threat
The UK's cyber-security agency’s director Jeremy Fleming warned that Britain must understand the potential "opportunities and threats" of using Chinese technology and called for better cyber-security practices in the telecoms industry.
Cyclicals to stay in the lead, but mind the Greenback, JP Morgan says
Strategists at JP Morgan made the case for being positioned in Cyclicals, contrary to what 'bears' were recommending given the late stage of the economic cycle, arguing that the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, was set to 'fall behind the curve'.
ECB 'hawk' Nowotny says decision on TLTROs may not come until 'summer'
Another top policymaker at the European Central Bank echoed his counterparts across the Atlantic on Friday, calling for more time, "until around summer", in order to better assess the magnitude of the risks - or not - to economic growth.
Food prices could soar 40% in 'no-deal' Brexit, UK, Irish retailers warn
UK and Irish retailers on Thursday warned that food products such as beef or cheddar cheese could be subject to 40% tariffs or more if the UK were to apply World Trade Organization rates on trade after a no-deal Brexit.
UK public finances see record surplus in January
Britain's public accounts enjoyed a record surplus at the start of 2019, which economists said would likely allow the Chancellor to provide another modest fiscal boost to the economy.
Standard Chartered sets aside $900m for UK, US fines
Standard Chartered said it was setting aside $900m (£688m) to cover fines resulting from regulatory investigations in the US and UK.
UK manufacturing order books bounce back, finds CBI
UK manufacturing order books have bounced back from their blip a month ago, research from the CBI has found.
Lloyds delivers bumper payout as PPI charges fall
Lloyds Banking Group lifted its dividend 5% and proposed a £1. 75bn share buyback after a year of "strong strategic and financial delivery".
Watchdog leans towards blocking Sainsbury-Asda merger
The UK competition watchdog has "extensive" concerns over the proposed £13bn merger between Sainsbury's and Asda, warning of the potential for pushing up prices and reducing ranges in hundreds of local areas.
UK wage growth remains well ahead of inflation
UK wage growth remained at its post-crisis high at the end of last year, as employment rose but productivity softened.
Bernie Sanders to run for president in 2020
Bernie Sanders announced on Tuesday that he will run again for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 US Presidential elections.
Europe midday: Stocks drop as investors assess damage from global slowdown
Stocks across the Continent are slipping lower as investors try to gauge the likely extent of the ongoing economic slowdown and wait for fresh headlines out of the trade talks between the US and China, which were set to resume later in the day, in Washington DC.
HSBC falls short on fourth quarter revenues and profits
Asian-focused HSBC posted lower than expected revenues and profits for the final three months of 2018 as volatility in financial markets took its toll, meaning that top-line growth failed to keep up with expenses.
ECB stands ready to act if economy slows more sharply, Praet says
A top European Central Bank official signaled overnight that further easing was clearly possible should the euro area economy slow more sharply.