Fidelity Top Stories
E-commerce surge boosts Segro annual profits
A surge in demand for warehouse space driven by e-commerce during the Covid-19 pandemic helped UK real estate investment trust Segro report a healthy rise in annual profits.
UK govt borrows another £8.8bn in January
The UK government borrowed another £8. 8bn in January, less than the £24. 5bn forecast by economists, according to official data.
J&J and Novavax Covid-19 vaccines still very much needed, Gates says
There is still a need for the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Johnson&Johnson and Novavax, even if some of their potency is lost on the new novel coronavirus strain detected in South Africa, Bill Gates said.
Wal Mart misses on Q4 EPS, guides lower
Wal Mart's shares fell after the low-cost retailer's fourth quarter earnings fell short of expectations and the company guided lower for earnings over the year ahead.
Airbus forecasts plane deliveries at 2020 levels after €1bn loss
Aerospace giant Airbus reported a €1. 1bn full-year loss and withheld its dividend on Thursday after plane deliveries fell by more than a third due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
'Arrogant' Facebook unfriends Australia in spat over new media law
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday slammed social media giant Facebook as "arrogant" in an escalating dispute over plans to make big tech companies pay for news content.
Hays plans special £150m special dividend as Q2 improves
Recruitment agency Hays said it planned to return £150m to shareholders via a special dividend as it reported improved trading conditions through its second quarter.
Smith & Nephew says Covid impact to remain in H1 as profits fall
Medical products business Smith & Nephew warned the Covid-19 pandemic impact was likely to continue into the first half of 2021 with uncertainty on the timing of recovery, as it reported a sharp fall in full-year profit.
Moderna accelerates Covid-19 vaccine shipments to US for Q2 and Q3
Moderna is accelerating shipments of its Covid-19 vaccine to the US federal government as the country races to head off the pandemic.
Credit Suisse's Golub says rising Treasury yields are a 'positive' for Wall Street
The rise in government bond yields and narrowing credit spreads are a signal that the economy is on the mend, a good omen for stocks, Credit Suisse strategist Jonathan Golub said.
Citi says a correction on Wall Street 'very likely'
A so-called 'correction' on Wall Street is increasingly likely now that the risk-reward offered by shares has turned 'neutral', Citigroup said.
Rio Tinto delivers record dividend as iron ore demand boosts profits
Rio Tinto delivered a record dividend to shareholders as soaring iron ore prices and demand from China drove full-year profits sharply higher.
eBay's Gumtree sale raises competition concerns, says CMA
Ebay’s planned $9. 2bn (£6. 5bn) deal to sell its Gumtree unit to Shpock owner Adevinta could reduce consumer choice and raise prices in the online classified advertising sector, the UK’s competition watchdog warned on Tuesday.
Euro area GDP shrinks by a bit less than expected in Q4 2020
The euro area economy shrank by a tad less than feared at the end of 2020, revised data showed.
BHP declares record dividend as China steel demand boosts profits
Australian mining giant BHP declared a record interim dividend after reporting a rise in profits driven by Chinese demand for iron ore.
Sanofi Covid-19 vaccines may be ready by end of 2021
French drug giant Sanofi's two vaccine candidates against Covid-19 may be ready by year-end, the company said, refuting an earlier report.
Brent at 13-month high on hopes for US stimulus and vaccine rollouts
Investors continued to bid crude oil prices higher at the start of the week, on the back of continued hopes for an easing of Covid-19 lockdowns around the world and of fiscal stimulus in the US.
Climate change fight should be 'mostly good' for S&P 500, BoA says
The fight against climate should be "mostly good" for the S&P 500, strategists at Bank of America argued, pointing out the gargantuan costs for humanity, even if mostly over the truly long-term, should we fail.
Russia warns it's ready to cut ties with European Union
Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov warned in an interview on Friday that his country is ready to sever ties with the European Union if needed.
Lastminute.com faces court action unless it pays £1m in refunds
Online travel agent Lastminute. com has been threatened with court action unless it pays more than £1m of outstanding refunds, the UK’s competition regulator said on Friday.