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Monday newspaper round-up: Russian debts, BrewDog, Virgin Atlantic

(Sharecast News) - A Russian default on its debts after western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine is no longer "improbable", but would not trigger a global financial crisis, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Sunday. The Washington-based fund's managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, said the sanctions imposed by the United States and other nations were already having a "severe" impact on the Russian economy and would trigger a deep recession there this year. The war in Ukraine will also drive up food and energy prices, leading to hunger in Africa, she added. - Guardian The boss of BrewDog, James Watt, hired private investigators to obtain information about people whom he believed were taking part in a smear campaign against him and repeatedly accused one woman of being involved until she blocked him on social media. According to multiple sources and evidence seen by the Guardian, private investigators who said they were working for Watt approached people to gather evidence about those who he appeared to believe had maligned him. - Guardian

Virgin Atlantic will reignite its decades-long dogfight with British Airways after a fortuitous bet that oil prices would rocket paid off following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a departure from previous years, Sir Richard Branson's airline has locked in fuel prices for 2022 at $90 a barrel, saving the carrier tens of millions of pounds, The Telegraph can disclose. - Telegraph

The government is exploring whether old coal-fired power stations that are due to close this year could be kept open to ease the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Officials have approached EDF to find out if its West Burton A plant in Nottinghamshire could continue generating beyond its planned September closure date, The Times can reveal. - The Times

Companies face fresh pressure to pull out of Russia after Rishi Sunak told them to "think very carefully" about investments there. The chancellor warned yesterday that there was "no case for new investment in Russia". He also welcomed announcements by businesses including BP and Shell that they were offloading Russian assets. Sunak said: "The government supports further signals of intent." His intervention escalates government efforts to urge companies to sever links with Russia. - The Times

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Friday newspaper round-up: Food and drink trade deficit, datacentre project, Meta, Morgan Stanley
(Sharecast News) - The gap between Britain's food and drink exports and imports has neared its highest this century, as a combination of Brexit, war in the Middle East and US tariffs dented deliveries overseas while imports soared. The UK's food and drink trade deficit has risen to more than £21bn - the largest since 2000 - in what industry leaders said was a "wake-up call" for the government to protect homegrown produce in the interest of national security. - Guardian
Thursday newspaper round-up: Defence contractors, Bentley, McDonald's
(Sharecast News) - Defence contractors have promised to create 40,000 apprenticeships, work experience placements and jobs for young people each year, as Wes Streeting claimed to be overseeing a "ministry for growth". Labour is keen to demonstrate that the rapid increase in defence spending planned for the coming years, which may necessitate tax rises, will result in jobs in the UK. - Guardian
Wednesday newspaper round-up: state pension, pharmaceutical companies, BMW
(Sharecast News) - A thinktank linked to Reform UK has called for the abolition of the state pension and £75bn worth of sweeping tax cuts in a "radical" report likely to influence the party's platform for the next election. The Centre for a Better Britain's (CFABB) report - which also calls for weaker rules for UK banks and Trump-style investment accounts offering £1,000 to newborns - will be formally launched at a private event with City executives on Wednesday. - Guardian
Wednesday newspaper round-up: state pension, pharmaceutical companies, BMW
(Sharecast News) - A thinktank linked to Reform UK has called for the abolition of the state pension and £75bn worth of sweeping tax cuts in a "radical" report likely to influence the party's platform for the next election. The Centre for a Better Britain's (CFABB) report - which also calls for weaker rules for UK banks and Trump-style investment accounts offering £1,000 to newborns - will be formally launched at a private event with City executives on Wednesday. - Guardian

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