Fidelity Top Stories
UK regulator to probe airlines over Covid refund refusals
Britain’s competition watchdog said it would investigating whether airlines broke the law by refusing refunds on flights passengers could not take due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ascential expands in China, Brazil with acquisitions
Data and analytics company Ascential on Wednesday said it had made acquisitions in China and Brazil.
FDA finds Moderna Covid-19 vaccine safe and effective
US regulators confirmed the high efficacy and safety of Moderna's vaccine candidate in preventing Covid-19.
US lawmakers edge towards agreement on fresh stimulus package
Hopes were growing on Tuesday that Washington could be close to agreeing pandemic relief worth $748bn after a compromise package of fiscal measures was presented by a group of bipartisan lawmakers.
Contrarians should sell 'reopening trade' in January, BofA says
Strategists at Bank of America believe selling global equities in the first quarter of 2021 may be the way to go in terms of 'contrarian' trades.
Shaftesbury slumps to loss as Covid-19 wipes £700m off valuations
London West End property owner Shaftesbury swung to a full-year loss as the coronavirus pandemic hammered rental income and the capital prepared to enter another round of top level restrictions.
JD Sports buys US retailer Shoe Palace for $325m
JD Sports Fashion said it has bought US-based Shoe Palace for $325m along with an equity share in the enlarged group for the company’s founders.
Drax sells gas assets for £193m
Power generator Drax said it had sold its gas assets to VPI Holding for £193. 3m as it moved towards its 2030 target of becoming carbon negative.
S&P says UK sovereign debt rating might come under pressure in 'no deal' Brexit
One of the world's top three credit rating agencies said a 'no deal' Brexit could see its rating for the UK's sovereign debt come under pressure should it complicate the outlook for the economy and fiscal consolidation.
Brexit: Pound up as UK, EU agree to 'go extra mile' on trade deal
The UK and European Union have agreed to extend Brexit trade talks into this week, although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the two sides were "still very far apart" on key issues.
UK govt restarts talks with EDF on £20bn Sizewell C nuclear plant
The UK government said it was restarting talks with EDF on its plan to build a £20bn nuclear reactor at Sizewell C in Suffolk, including the possibility of taking a direct financial stake in its construction.
AstraZeneca to buy US drug maker Alexion in $39bn deal
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it was buying US drug developer Alexion in a cash and shares deal worth $39bn.
BoE doing extensive work on possible impact of adopting negative interest rates
Extensive work was being carried out at the Bank of England on the possible implications and practicalities around adopting negative interest rates.
Rolls-Royce sees higher cash burn on Covid second wave
Aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce on Friday warned the second wave of Covid-19 was hampering a recovery in air travel, leading it to lift cash outflow projections.
Bellway sees annual volumes up 25% as new home demand soars
Housebuilder Bellway on Friday said it expected annual volumes to rise by a quarter as the stamp duty holiday and government help drove higher demand for new homes.
BofA doesn't expect BoE to ease even if Brexit news is negative
Britain and the European Union will most likely agree a Brexit deal, but should they fail, then the Bank of England would restart its asset purchases and cut interest rates, by 50 basis points eventually, economists at Bank of America said.
ECB boosts Covid-19 asset purchase programme by €500bn, to conduct more liquidity auctions
Rate-setters in Frankfurt eased monetary policy further on Thursday, boosting the size of their asset purchase programme, as expected, alongside a barrage of other measures.
France fines Google $120m and Amazon $43m data protection breach
France’s data protection agency, the CNIL, issued fines against Google and Amazon for dropping so-called tracking cookies without consent.
EU unveils plan to avoid disruption in case of no-deal Brexit
The European Commission has drawn up contingency plans to ensure both transport links and fishing access can continue in the case of a no-deal Brexit.
Frasers lifts FY guidance as online sales boost interims
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group raised full year profit guidance as it reported higher profits at the half-year driven by strong sales online and at stores as they reopened after the Covid-19 lockdown.