Pilots’ union calls for ministers to commit to ending travel ban on 2 December November 4, 2020 The UK’s pilot union has called for the government to commit to end the ban on international leisure travel on 2 December. Under the rules of the new national lockdown, which begins tomorrow, all but essential overseas travel from England will be banned. When the measure was announced on Saturday it was denounced as a [...]
Eyes turn to the Federal Reserve as markets await US election result November 4, 2020 As markets nervously awaited the results of today’s chaotic presidential election, investors’ eyes turned to the US Federal Reserve’s meeting tomorrow. Traders were digesting the state of play so far, and seemed to think that the most likely outcome is a president who doesn’t have control of congress. It comes after President Donald Trump fared [...]
Why has Donald Trump done much better than Europeans expected — again? November 4, 2020 As was the case four years ago, most media outlets in Europe have been predicting a massive victory for the Democrats. Now the election results are much tighter than expected. Why? Well, among lots of Europeans it was the wish for an overwhelming victory for Joe Biden that shaped the narrative. The majority of western [...]
Three owner CK Hutchison nears €10bn tower sale to Cellnex November 4, 2020 The owner of mobile network Three today confirmed it is closing in on a €10bn (£9bn) sale of its European masts business to Spanish infrastructure group Cellnex. In a stock market filing today, CK Hutchison said it had reached a “substantial agreement” with Cellnex on key commercial terms for the sale. The Hong Kong-based group [...]
London Southend owner Stobart bullish on comeback November 4, 2020 The boss of London Southend owner Stobart Group is optimistic that the airport will be among the quickest to see a recovery in passenger numbers after the coronavirus pandemic. This morning the company revealed that numbers have dropped 89.5 per cent so far this year. Most companies in the sector are predicting a return to [...]
BoE brings forward rate decision ahead of Sunak’s statement on Covid support November 4, 2020 The Bank of England (BoE) has moved the announcement of its November interest rates decision forward to avoid it clashing with a statement on Covid-19 support from the chancellor. The Bank moved the announcement after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Rishi Sunak would make a statement on the government’s coronavirus support measures to Parliament at [...]
Fitness industry rolls orange tank into Parliament Square in lockdown protest November 4, 2020 Fitness firms sparked chaos this morning after driving an orange tank through Westminster to protest the sector’s closure during the upcoming lockdown. Among the protesters was former England rugby international James Haskell, who was filmed releasing orange smoke from the armoured vehicle in Parliament Square. The disruptive stunt, which was organised by fitness brand Grenade, [...]
Carlyle Group buys UK retirement homes group Beechcroft November 4, 2020 Private equity firm The Carlyle Group has acquired UK retirement homes group from Alchemy Partners for an undisclosed sum. The US investment giant’s €540m Carlyle Europe Realty fund invested in Beechcroft, which owns a portfolio of homes in Greater London and South East England. Founded more than 35 years ago, Beechcroft covers the entire development value [...]
Boris Johnson promises businesses new lockdown will end on 2 December November 4, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson reassured British businesses that the new lockdown in England will end on 2 December during a speech to the CBI today, but later said it would “depend on us all doing our bit”. Johnson announced a new month-long lockdown at the weekend. It will come into place tomorrow and will see [...]
John Lewis axes 1,500 head office jobs November 4, 2020 John Lewis has announced it will axe a further 1,500 jobs as part of its plan to return to profit. The retailer said this morning that it will cut the head office roles by April next year, in a move that will save £50m as it targets £300m in cost reductions by 2022. It will [...]