Oil prices bounce back as demand drop forecasts trimmed May 14, 2020 Oil prices bounced back after yesterday’s losses after the International Energy Agency trimmed its forecast for the drop in oil demand over the full year. Having slipped earlier in the week, worldwide benchmark Brent crude picked up 2.8 per cent to cross the $30 threshold again. US standard West Texas Intermediate rose 3.1 per cent [...]
Aston Martin makes £119m loss as coronavirus squashes demand May 13, 2020 Aston Martin fell to a £118.9m pre-tax loss in the first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic squashed demand at the luxury carmaker, driving revenue down. In its first results since Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll became executive chairman of the iconic firm, the company said its new DBX model was on track for summer delivery despite [...]
Shakespeare: B&Q rollercoaster points to Covid confusion May 13, 2020 Our chart today looks like a rollercoaster and that’s what it must feel like for high street retailers negotiating government advice and public opinion. After initial confusion as to which businesses were “essential” following Boris Johnson’s initial COVID-19 lockdown announcement, Government clarified that hardware stores could remain open. But B&Q reacted to criticism from employees [...]
Restaurants hit out at delivery platform fees during lockdown May 13, 2020 Restaurant industry experts have hit out at takeaway delivery companies during the coronavirus outbreak, saying Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats make more than £1bn a year in fees through UK restaurants. A study found that three in five consumers have tried to support their favourite local restaurant during the lockdown by ordering through an [...]
A UK-US financial services deal is a prize of untold value May 12, 2020 Now the UK and US have commenced trade negotiations, focus should turn to the benefits both parties could achieve through a deal in financial services. Connecting the UK’s and US’s financial markets, and their wider national ecosystems, would be a huge prize. It would give US corporates and consumers the cheapest possible access to the [...]
Upcycling: Putting the wheels in motion May 12, 2020 Coronavirus. COVID-19. The pandemic. The Plague of 2020. I don’t know how we’ll remember this extraordinary, strange, terrible time we’re living through, but it’s certain that we will, and that it will be—has already been—transformative, for businesses and for society more generally. I’m an entrepreneur, and my business is reputation. What’s been fascinating for me [...]
Elon Musk reopens Tesla factory in defiance of lockdown rules May 12, 2020 Tesla’s chief executive Elon Musk has said that the electric car firm will restart production at its factory in California despite an order forcing it to remain closed. In a tweet last night, Musk said that if anyone had to be arrested over the decision, it should be him: “Tesla is restarting production today against [...]