Covid latest: Number of Omicron coronavirus cases in UK jumps to 14, Boris Johnson to address nation today November 30, 2021 It appears this morning that three more cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 14. The news comes as Boris Johnson is expected to hold a Downing Street press conference this afternoon, where he is expected to set out more [...]
New ‘purpose-built’ $1bn UK clearing bank launches in London November 30, 2021 London gets its second new clearing bank in 250 years today, as The Bank of London launches in the city to approve and process cross-border payments. Founded by Anthony Watson, a former chief information officer at both Nike and Barclays, The Bank of London is taking on the four banking giants HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, [...]
Griffon Hoverwork wins major hovercraft export contract in Japan November 30, 2021 UK-based hovercraft giant Griffon Hoverwork confirmed it has won a major new contract in Japan, supplying three new 12000TD craft to the country. Work on the first hovercraft is set to start at the end of January next year, with the last craft to be delivered to the the Oita Prefecture government in Japan in [...]
Queen replaced by Rihanna as national hero as Prince Charles witnesses Barbados becoming a republic November 30, 2021 As Barbados’ first president was sworn in, superstar Rihanna was made a national hero as her celebrated becoming a republic. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley surprised the invited guests when she said her government had recommended the celebrity be made a member of the Order of National Heroes. Rihanna, who grew up in the island [...]
Omicron optimism: Covid anxiety attack on the financial markets shows signs of alleviating November 29, 2021 The anxiety attack on the financial markets shows signs of alleviating, as investors pause for breath and spot signs of optimism while scientists race to establish the severity of the new variant. The FTSE 100 opened up 1 per cent in early trading, recovering some of Friday’s dramatic losses and the FTSE 250 was 1.5 [...]
Nissan bets heavily on electric cars as it pours £13.2bn into 23 new models with key role for Sunderland plant November 29, 2021 Car giant Nissan said this morning it plans to spend more than £13bn on developing electric vehicles. At a news conference in Japan the car manufacturer, which has a major plant in Sunderland, revealed it will develop 23 new electric models by 2030. By that time, the firm aims for half of its global output [...]
D-day for Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell as sex trafficking trial begins in New York City November 29, 2021 The sex trafficking trial against disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is set to begin in New York. The British socialite denies recruiting teenagers who were not yet adults for Epstein to sexually abuse from 1994 to 2004. Maxwell, the daughter of late media mogul Robert Maxwell, has been in a US jail since [...]
Former Yorkshire Building Society chief Mike Regnier becomes Santander UK’s new CEO November 29, 2021 Santander UK announced this morning that Mike Regnier will become the bank’s new chief executive officer.. Regnier joins Santander from Yorkshire Building Society, where he has been CEO since 2017 and prior to that Chief Commercial and Chief Customer Officer. Santander said in a statement he has over 25 years’ financial services and retail experience [...]
Markets digest Omicron: After worst equity day of the year on Friday, we are in for a bumpy ride this week November 29, 2021 The wider question with respect to Friday’s market collapse and the worst day for equity markets this year, as well as the 13 fall in oil prices, is not so much as to whether it was justified or not, but whether it marks a sea change in market sentiment when it comes to the economic [...]
Brussels told to extend EU firms’ access to City’s derivative market November 28, 2021 A host of influential European banking groups have called for continued access to London’s lucrative derivatives market – weakening Brussels’ hand in negotiations over post-Brexit financial services. The European Union has so far only allowed temporary access to London for companies housed within the bloc, but over the weekend a letter emerged from groups including [...]