Nearly half of UK companies have scrapped dividend payments April 9, 2020 Nearly half of UK companies have scrapped dividend payouts as the coronavirus crisis batters business. The pace of dividend cuts has accelerated since the FTSE 100 slumped to its lowest point in over 25 years last month. Link Group’s UK dividend monitor shows 45 per cent of UK companies have scrapped payments, worth £28.2bn. It [...]
Invesco chiefs warn listed companies over cash calls April 8, 2020 Invesco has told listed companies they must make a convincing case for raising “precious and expensive” equity during the coronavirus pandemic. A letter sent by the co-heads of UK equities at Invesco, obtained by Sky News, sets out their expectations for corporate fundraising. It came after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced temporary measures to [...]
US stocks rise on hopes coronavirus is peaking April 8, 2020 US stocks rose at the open as investor confidence grew on hopes that the coronavirus outbreak was peaking. The Dow Jones was up 0.9 per cent in early trading while the S&P 500 was up 0.8 per cent. The Nasdaq was 0.8 per cent higher. All three had finished marginally in the red yesterday. European [...]
Coronavirus: British Gas to furlough 3,800 staff April 8, 2020 British Gas has become the latest of the UK’s energy suppliers to take advantage of the government’s job retention scheme, furloughing around 3,800 employees as the firm scales back operations due to coronavirus. The UK’s largest household energy supplier, which is owned by services giant Centrica, said furloughed employees will be paid 100 per cent [...]
FCA eases rules to speed up company capital raising April 8, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out temporary measures to help listed companies raise cash quickly during the coronavirus crisis. The watchdog said it was likely many companies will turn to capital markets to raise money to support their recovery. Since lockdown measures prevent more than two people meeting, it’s harder to obtain shareholder [...]
Coronavirus: FTSE 100 ends two-day rally as EU recovery stalls April 8, 2020 The FTSE 100 could not recover from a 1.2 per cent slump today after EU finance ministers failed to agree steps towards a coronavirus recovery. London’s blue-chip index fell 65 points to 5,638 within its first half hour of trading today. It followed two consecutive days of sharp gains for the FTSE 100. France’s Cac [...]
FTSE 100 gains cool despite coronavirus cases starting to fall April 7, 2020 The FTSE 100 finished the day up two per cent after cooling gains in US stocks forced the London index down from a three per cent high. However, it still posted its second day of gains as traders became optimistic that Europe could soon relax its coronavirus lockdowns as the rate of new cases slowed. [...]
US stocks jump on signs coronavirus is slowing April 7, 2020 US stocks have surged for the second day as investors cheer signs that the coronavirus outbreak may be slowing and that lockdowns may soon be eased. Wall Street’s major stock indices all opened sharply higher. The Dow Jones was up 3.8 per cent in early trading and the S&P 500 was up 3.2 per cent. [...]
UK petrol prices near £1 on global oil market slump April 7, 2020 Petrol prices around the country have hit their lowest levels since 2016 as the prospect of fuel trading for £1 a litre grows more likely amid the global slump in oil prices. According to the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), petrol is currently being sold for an average of £1.10 per litre, [...]
Demand for UK bonds surges as government funds coronavirus spree April 7, 2020 Investor demand for UK government bonds was its highest for three years today as Britain sold £3.25bn worth of debt to help fund its unprecedented coronavirus support programmes. Buyers bid 3.05 times the £3.25bn available of the 0.125 per cent return three-year Gilt (UK government bond). It sold at an average yield of 0.204 per [...]