Fidelity Top Stories
UK labour market holds steady at historic high
The UK’s historic levels of employment continued to hold steady in the first quarter, with a record number of people in work.
BHP CEO predicts strong future under all scenarios
BHP's chief executive said his company had a strong future no matter how climate change and other developments play out.
EU readies retaliation as US auto-tariff deadline looms
The European Union has prepared a list of American exports that will be subjected to tariffs on 18 May should the US go ahead with $53bn-worth of levies on the bloc's car and auto parts exports.
Trump warns China not to retaliate as trade war escalates
Tensions between Washington and Beijing were put in sharp focus on Monday after a series of tweets by Donald Trump aimed at Chinese counterpart President Xi.
Metro Bank says equity raising is well advanced
Metro Bank said its plans to raise £350m of equity capital were well advanced after the bank was forced to reassure customers their money was safe.
Bitcoin climbs past $7,000 and hits nine-month high
Bitcoin has climbed past $7,000, reaching its highest price since September on the back of an extended rally that has seen it surge by more than $1,000 over the weekend.
Trump prepares to increase tariffs on China on Friday as negotiations resume
The US administration is moving ahead with preparations to increase its tariffs on Chinese exports on Friday even as the negotiating team from Beijing arrives in Washington for two days of talks.
Tory rebels renew push to topple May
Dissident Tory MPs were once again trying to garner support to unseat Prime Minister Theresa May as pressure intensified on her to provide a departure timetable.
China foreign trade data for April paints mixed picture of the economy
Chinese export growth fell back unexpectedly last month and while an acceleration in imports pointed to an improvement in the domestic economy, economists were somewhat divided on the strength one could expected of any rebound.
China reneges on multiple aspects of draft trade agreement
The White House received a diplomatic cable from Beijing late on Friday night containing systematic edits to the pair's nearly 150-page draft trade agreement, threatening to undo months of negotiations between the world's two largest economies.
Any weakness in stocks unlikely to be 'material or prolonged', JP Morgan says
A correction in stockmarket prices was possible but any weakness was unlikely to be "material or prolonged", said strategists at JP Morgan, who advised clients to use any weakness on the back of seasonals and the US President to add to their positions.
Labour MPs refuse to back Brexit deal without second referendum
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was warned he could lose the support of up to 60 MPs for a Brexit deal if he failed to secure a second referendum.
Hunt hints at customs union compromise in Labour Brexit talks
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt appeared to hint that the government's cross-party talks with Labour are close to bearing fruit on Tuesday, commenting that he doesn’t "personally" favor a customs union with the European Union but compromise was needed on all sides.
Chinese vice premier Liu He to travel to Washington on Thursday
China's top trade official will travel to the States this week even after the US administration's decision to backtrack on a promise not to further increase its tariffs on the Asian giant's exports, in response to what Washington said was backsliding by Beijing on various of its recent commitments.
Tories and Labour suffer local election losses, pound jumps
The Conservative and Labour parties both lost ground at local elections on Friday, with smaller parties and independent candidates hoovering up more seats as voters expressed their frustration over Brexit deadlock.
US non-farm payrolls jump past forecasts in April, but not wages?
Monthly non-farm payroll growth stormed past forecasts again, helped by hiring for the US census, but only a bit.
'Transitory' factors may only explain part of the decline in prices, Fed's Evans says
A top US central bank official sounded a 'dovish' note on the outlook for interest rates, helping to stoke sharp gains on Wall Street.
Sun fails to shine on British high street - BDO
Warm weather and the Easter holidays failed to draw out shoppers last month, according to a survey published on Friday, as UK retail sales continued to ease.
MPC votes unanimously to keep policy on hold
Policymakers at the Old Lady on Threadneedle Street voted unanimously on Thursday to keep policy unchanged.
US Q1 labour productivity grows above post-WWII trend
Labour productivity in the States grew at its fastest pace in over eight years at the start of 2019, edging past its post-WWII average, but economists cautioned such gains could not be sustained.