BP to keep partial work-from-home policy as oil major seeks to cut office costs March 8, 2021 BP plans to extend remote working as a further cost saving measure affecting 25,000 staff
Britons will not splurge Covid-19 savings on post-lockdown spending spree, says OBR March 8, 2021 Britons will not embark on a post-lockdown spending spree with funds saved during the Covid crisis, according to a senior member of the UK’s budgetary watchdog. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) committee member Sir Charlie Bean told MPs today that of the £180bn in excess savings Britons have accumulated during Covid-19, only “a relatively [...]
BoE boss says Covid recession will have fewer long-term effects than previous UK downturns March 8, 2021 The Covid crisis will not have as many long-term economic effects in the UK as previous recessions, according to Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Bailey today said his diagnosis of the UK’s economic recovery prospects was “positive, but with large doses of cautionary realism”. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) last week said it [...]
£54bn pandemic export hit: UK losing market share in US, Germany and China March 8, 2021 The UK’s goods exports slumped by £54bn in 2020 and Britain lost market share to its main competitors as Covid-19 hammered global trade, according to new research published this morning. The findings, from Aston University’s Lloyd’s Banking Group Centre for Business Prosperity, showed that Britain suffered a 14.7 per cent drop in goods exports, one of [...]
Service sector confidence hits 12-month high on UK vaccine rollout March 7, 2021 Service sector confidence has risen to a 12-month high amid hopes the UK’s successful vaccine rollout will fuel an end to lockdown measures. The services optimism index, compiled by accountancy firm BDO, surged to 94.13 in February from 86.60 the previous month, marking its highest level since the Covid-19 outbreak last year. The rising index, [...]
Hancock firm on NHS one per cent pay rise despite nurse and union pressure March 5, 2021 Matt Hancock rejects opposition to one per cent pay rise despite union hostility towards the decision
Pound sterling falls back to near $1.38 on US jobs data surprise March 5, 2021 Pound Sterling rises tempered by strong US economic figures
Number of new jobs in the US smashes expectations with 379,000 roles added in February March 5, 2021 Number of new jobs in the US smashes expectations with 379,000 roles added
China sets new growth target above six per cent March 5, 2021 Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced the new six per cent economic target today at the opening of this year’s National People’s Congress, and pledged to create more jobs in China’s cities. This marks a return to strong economic growth after China’s economy was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic last year. In 2020 the economy only [...]
Oil prices jump five per cent as Opec mulls supply cuts March 4, 2021 The price of Brent crude increased by $2.91 today, up 4.5 per cent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.75 to around $64 a barrel, up 4.49 per cent. The price rises came as ministers from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies convened a meeting to discuss a potential [...]