Bank of England to finance government borrowing during coronavirus crisis April 9, 2020 The Bank of England has agreed to temporarily finance government borrowing during the coronavirus crisis, a measure last used extensively during the financial crisis. The UK government normally borrows money via the issues of bonds to the market. The measure announced today gives the government more flexibility in raising cash quickly. “As a temporary measure, [...]
UK economy grew just 0.1 per cent before coronavirus lockdown April 9, 2020 The UK economy grew 0.1 per cent in the three months to February before the coronavirus lockdown hit businesses. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed the increase was entirely down to the services sector. The tiny rise, which is measured on a three-month rolling basis, was a slight improvement on the three months [...]
Oil prices: Opec and Russia to discuss production cuts April 9, 2020 Opec and Russia will meet today to try to negotiate cuts to production cuts in a bid to address a drop in oil prices during the coronavirus crisis. Demand for fuel has plunged as much as 30 per cent after lockdowns and travel restrictions forced airlines to ground their plans and car usage slumped amid [...]
Asian stocks climb as hopes grow coronavirus is peaking April 9, 2020 Asian stocks rose today as hopes grew the global coronavirus outbreak is reaching its peak and oil prices grew on expectations of a production cut. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.65 per cent despite Japan’s Nikkei dropping 0.33 per cent overnight. The Nikkei sank as coronavirus infections rose in Japan, after the government declared [...]
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 [...]