Decline in Eurozone construction sector eases July 6, 2020 The decline in the Eurozone’s construction sector eased significantly in June, survey data has shown, as economies reopened from coronavirus lockdowns. The closely watched IHS Markit Eurozone construction activity index rose sharply to 48.3 in June from 39.5 in May. This was the best reading since February, indicating that the sector is on its way [...]
Former MI6 chief amps up fears coronavirus came from Wuhan lab July 5, 2020 The former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) has fanned fears that the coronavirus pandemic is the result of a Chinese lab leak, after scientists raised fresh questions over the outbreak of Covid-19. Sir Richard Dearlove, who served as chief of MI6 from 1999 to 2004, departed from the prevailing theory that the [...]
Matt Hancock praises behaviour of ‘vast majority’ on ‘super Saturday’ July 5, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has lauded the behaviour of the “vast majority” of people in England who went out to celebrate the reopening of pubs and restaurants yesterday. Scenes of city centres busy with revellers were captured across England yesterday in what was widely dubbed as “super Saturday”. Concerns were raised by some that social [...]
Opening up: How one entrepreneur kept his food hall dream alive July 3, 2020 The pandemic has been tough on everybody – but launching a food hall business in the middle of it is really going above and beyond. Sessions Market chief Dan Warne tells us how he kept going, and plans for the future It was early March and just like so many businesses, the news of the [...]
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 176 ahead of lockdown lifting in England July 1, 2020 A further 176 people have died from coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total death toll to 43,906. The Department of Health said 226,398 had been carried out in the past day. As of this morning, 9,662,051 tests have been carried out but the reporting on the number of people has been paused to “ensure [...]
US manufacturing sector rebounds as states lift lockdowns July 1, 2020 The US manufacturing sector rebounded sharply in June, survey data showed today, fuelling hopes that the world’s biggest economy is on its way back to normality as coronavirus restrictions are lifted. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) jumped to 52.6 in June from 43.1 in May. A score of [...]
Fears over looming coronavirus job losses in UK manufacturing sector July 1, 2020 The UK manufacturing sector could be facing a huge wave of job losses as government support for businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic comes to an end, economists warned. Although factory activity in the UK grew by the slimmest of margins in June, the IHS Markit/Cips manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed, the survey painted [...]