Fidelity Top Stories
US economic activity hits March 2015 highs, IHS Markit says
The fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in the US failed to dent the economic rebound in the US, the results of two closely-followed surveys revealed.
Bank may soften resistance to restart of UK lenders' dividend payouts
UK regulators may be set to ease their resistance to dividend payments starting from early 2021.
Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust to pursue IPO
Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust will pursue an initial public sale of stock with the aim of becoming the first listed investment company delivering a measurable positive "high" social impact.
John Laing spends £38.6m lifting stake in US road project
Infrastructure investor group John Laing said it had spent $38. 6m (£29m) increasing its stake in a US road project.
Petropavlovsk appoints KPMG to probe prior deals
London-listed Russian gold miner Petropavlovsk said it had appointed of KPMG to investigate related-party transactions undertaken by the company over the last three years.
Sirius lifts dividend as HY profits fall
German business park specialist Sirius Real Estate lifted its dividend as reported a fall in half-year profits.
Pfizer and BioNTech file for emergency use approval of Covid-19 vaccine with FDA
Pfizer and BioNTech have filed for Emergency Use Authorisation with America's drug regulator for their Covid-19 vaccine candidate, BNT162b2.
Unions call for frontline workers to have priority access to Covid-19 vaccine
UK unions called for key frontline workers to be given priority access for a Covid-19 vaccine once its rolled out after they were omitted from the list.
Sage lifts dividend as recurring revenue rises 8.5%
Accounting software firm Sage lifted its dividend as it reported a 8. 5% rise in organic recurring revenue to £1. 6bn, driven by growth from existing and new customers, in North America and Northern Europe.
Frasers Group ups stake in Mulberry to 37%, mulls bid
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has upped its holding in luxury brand Mulberry to 37% and is considering a possible takeover, it confirmed on Thursday.
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine more than 94% effective in older adults
The Covid-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has shown an elevated degree of efficacy in preventing Covid-19 among those aged 65 and over.
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine meets safety milestone, will submit for EUA
Pfizer has reached a key safety milestone for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, having collected two months' worth of follow-on safety data from the volunteers dosed in its late stage clinical trial.
Unilever sets goal for €1bn annual sales of plant-based items
Unilver has set itself the target of reaching annual sales of plant-based foodstuffs worth €1bn.
Lockdown cycling boom propels Halfords to bumper profits
Halfords pedalled to bumper interim profits on Wednesday as Britons got on their bikes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
SSE takes £115 first-half hit from coronavirus
Energy supplier SSE reported a fall in adjusted operating profit after taking a £115m hit from the coronavirus pandemic, but also maintained its interim dividend payout.
US industrial production outstrips forecasts despite drag from oil
Industrial production in the US bounded ahead last month, led by gains in factory and utilities output, even as softness in the oil patch dragged on mining.
US retail sales undershoot forecasts in September and October
US retail sales undershot forecasts in September and October as incomes fell, the mercury dropped and the pandemic strengthened.
Pfizer to start pilot delivery program for Covid-19 vaccine
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer will begin trials in four US states for the delivery program for the Covid-19 vaccine that it is developing.
WHO warns 'no time for complacency' despite Covid-19 vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that although the announcements of new potential effective vaccines for Covid-19 are positive news, “many questions” remain and there is no time for complacency.
Huawei sells Honor brand in bid to save supply chain
Huawei on Tuesday said it was selling its budget brand smartphone unit Honor to a government-backed consortium in a bid to save its supply chain impacted by US government sanctions.