Fidelity Top Stories
Shell beats on Q2 profits, announces $2.0bn share buyback
All of Royal Dutch Shell's key financial metrics headed in the right direction over the second quarter, with the company announcing a dividend increase and share buyback programme as a result.
Bitcoin surges on reports Amazon will allow crypto payments
Cryptocurrency prices surged on Monday amid market rumours that Amazon could soon accept Bitcoin tokens as payment after the e-commerce giant advertised for a digital currency and blockchain product lead.
Goldman Sachs posts better-than-expected Q2 results
Shares of Goldman Sachs were rising in premarket trading after the iconic investment bank bested analysts' forecasts for both its top and bottom lines in the second quarter.
BoE warns of crackdown on cloud service providers to financial sector
UK regulators need to act to avoid banks' reliance on a handful of outside cloud computing providers (CSPs) becoming a threat to financial stability, the Bank of England said on Tuesday.
JP Morgan raises year-end 2021 target for S&P 500
Strategists at JP Morgan raised their year-end target for the S&P 500 and told clients that they did not anticipate that the Delta Covid-19 variant would derail the reopening of economies.
Official China factory PMI slows more than expected in July
Activity in China's factory sector slowed more than expected in July amid higher weaker demand overseas, equipment maintenance and higher input costs, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
SEC halts China IPOs seeks to tighten guidance on risk disclosures
America's financial markets' watchdog has halted registrations for Chinese corporates seeking to list on US stock markets.
US personal income and spending for June come in ahead of forecasts
Americans continued splashing out last month as income growth surprised to the upside.
Pearson launches new student app as US growth drives swing to profits
Education publisher Pearson on Friday launched an app for US college students as it planned to expand its footprint in the digital marketplace after reporting better than expected first-half profit and underlying sales as demand for online learning increased.
Paragon reports rise in mortgage lending as housing boom continues
Paragon Banking reported a rise in mortgage lending as the UK house buying boom continued.
Cineworld secures $200m in incremental loans
Cineworld on Friday said it had secured $200m of incremental loans maturing in May 2024 from a group of existing lenders, as the cinema chain owner looked to take advantage of pent-up demand after the lifting of Covid restrictions.
AstraZeneca boss not yet sure if booster shots will be needed
AstraZeneca does not know yet whether so-called 'booster' shots of its Covid-19 vaccine will be needed or not.
US GDP grows less quickly than expected in Q2 as government stimulus expires
US economic growth accelerated less than expected in the second quarter, although it did reclaim its pre-pandemic level.
Lloyds Bank resumes dividend, swings to H1 profit
Lloyds Bank swung to an interim profit and reinstated its dividend on Thursday after a large impairment credit, driven by an improved UK economic outlook and soaring housing market.
Mitchells & Butlers sees 'volatile' trade since reopening
UK pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers said sales had been "volatile" since reopening on May 17 with stronger demand in suburban outlets offsetting challenging conditions in city centres.
Compass Q3 revenue growth, margins up on improved demand
Global catering specialist Compass Group on Thursday said it expected trading to be around 80% - 85% of pre-Covid-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter as its larger markets reopened.
Diageo sales soar driven as Covid curbs start to ease
Spirits group Diageo reported a sharp jump in annual profits, driven by higher sales as Covid lockdown easing in some of its markets allowed bars and restaurants to reopen.
BT first-quarter earnings rise 3%
UK telecoms and broadcasting group BT reported better-than-expected first-quarter core earnings as trading improved across most of its businesses.
Barclays resumes dividends as H1 profits smash estimates
UK bank Barclays on Wednesday smashed first-half profit estimates as it released £742m in impairments, resumed dividends and announced a £500m share buyback.
De Beers diamond sales shine on US, China demand
Anglo American said rough-diamond sales by its majority-owned De Beers Group rose 6. 9% higher in the sixth sales cycle of 2021 compared with the previous cycle, driven by strong US and China demand.