Fidelity Top Stories
Global M&A activity down in Q1 due to Brexit uncertainty
Global merger and acquisitions fell by 17% in the first quarter of the year as fears of an economic slowdown and the growing uncertainty around Brexit dampened CEOs’ interest in pursuing takeovers.
China makes 'unprecedented' proposals, US may lift some tariffs
China has made "unprecedented" proposals to Washington on various issues, including the forced transfer of technology, Reuters reported, citing a US official, and Washington might be open to removing some of its tariffs on Chinese goods.
Oil prices fall as Trump calls on Opec to up production
Donald Trump has called on the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries to up its output, triggering a slide in oil futures.
Barclays says global recession risk 'limited', sees pick up in South America
The global economy is set to slow a tad in 2019, economists at Barclays said, but the risk of a slump into recession is limited.
Bercow blocks third vote on May's Brexit deal
House of Commons speaker John Bercow appears to have blocked Theresa May's attempts to pass her Brexit deal through Parliament, stating that no meaningful vote could take place without significant changes to the proposal.
May aims to bring back Brexit deal for third vote
Theresa May hopes to bring her Brexit deal back for a third 'meaningful vote' this week after receiving promises of support if she agrees to quit.
ECB's Draghi sounds confident note but adds that risks have risen
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi sounded a confident note on the economic outlook on Wednesday, but conceded that risks had risen recently and that negative interest rates might possibly be having some undesired 'side effects'.
Pound up on hopes of softening opposition to May's Brexit deal
Sterling rallied on Tuesday, on speculation that hard-line Brexiteers were starting to come around to Theresa May’s withdrawal deal.
ECB's Rehn says policy to remain accommodative for 'quite some time'
A top European Central Bank official said on Tuesday that the current slowdown in the Eurozone economy might be more protracted than what had been expected just a few months before and that monetary policy would need to remain accommodative for "quite some time".
May says not enough support for third meaningful vote
The government is not planning to table a third 'meaningful vote' on its Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal due to a continued lack of support.
Mueller report finds no collusion between Trump and Russia
US justice department special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that US President Donald Trump did not collude with Russia during the campaign of the 2016 general elections, but did not exonerate him from allegations that he might have obstructed justice.
JP Morgan recommends clients add further to equity positions
Equity strategists at JP Morgan recommended clients use the consolidation to "add further" to their positions in stocks, arguing that investor positioning was "light" and that companies' profit margins were set to improve.
China resisting US demands on digital trade, FT reports
Beijing is refusing to budge on one of several remaining obstacles to resolving its trade spat with Washington, America's demand that it ease its curbs on digital trade.
Policy may need to be loosened, Fed's Evans says
A top US central bank official said on Monday that the downside risks to the economy outweighed those to the upside and that interest rate cuts might be needed.
EU takes control of Brexit date as May flounders at summit
Theresa May lost control of the Brexit departure date on Thursday as EU leaders agreed a short postponement despite an appeal for a three month delay from the British prime minister.
March Philly Fed index continues to point to weakness
Perhaps the most widely-followed regional manufacturing gauge in the US rebounded sharply in March, but according to economists continued to point to an ongoing slowdown.
BoE stays put on policy, waiting for Brexit result
The Monetary Policy Committee chose to stay put on policy, continuing to guide markets towards gradual hikes in Bank Rate, even as it noted how uncertainty around Brexit might be distorting the signals coming from recent economic data.
UK retail sales continue to bounce back
UK retail bounced back more than expected last month, boosted by online non-food shopping and motor fuel sales.
Pound plunges as EU rebuffs May's call for short Brexit delay
Theresa May on Wednesday told the House of Commons that she is "not prepared to delay Brexit any further than the 30 June" but reports leaking from the European Union suggested otherwise.
Dutch coalition government may lose Senate majority to eurosceptics
Holland's coalition government is at risk of losing its Senate majority in provincial elections due to be held on Wednesday evening as the Eurosceptic Forum for Democracy climbs in the polls.