Halfords to reopen 53 stores after Covid-19 lockdown May 27, 2020 Halfords today said it will reopen 53 stores across the UK after it was forced to close down its physical operations due to the coronavirus crisis. The bicycle and car parts retailer was granted essential retailer status following the lockdown, meaning it was able to keep 335 of its 446 stores open. However, these operated [...]
Hammerson boss David Atkins to step down after a decade May 27, 2020 Hammerson chief executive David Atkins will step down after 10 years at the helm, the retail landlord said today. The property giant, which owns Birmingham’s Bullring, said Atkins will remain in position until spring 2021 while it searches for his successor. Atkins, who took the reins in 2009, said it had been a “privilege” to [...]
Cloud-based phone system Aircall raises $65m amid home working boom May 27, 2020 Cloud-based phone system Aircall has raised $65m in Series 3 funding led by DTCP, as demand for the firm’s technology has surged during the remote-working boom sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. The round was led by DTCP with participation from new investors Swisscom and Adam Street, as well as existing investors Balderton Capital, Draper Esprit, [...]
St James’s Place posts rise in net inflows despite Covid-19 hit May 27, 2020 St James’s Place today reported a modest rise in net inflows in April but said the coronavirus crisis had continued to dampen new investments. The wealth manager posted net inflows of 810m last month, up from 800m in the same period last year. The modest rise combined with positive investment return led to funds under [...]
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to face MPs amid Dominic Cummings row May 27, 2020 Boris Johnson will be grilled by senior MPs today as the prime minister faces growing pressure from within his own party to sack top aide Dominic Cummings. Johnson will appear in front of the Commons Liaison Committee for the first time since taking office, with MPs set to ask about the government’s handling of coronavirus. [...]
The City View: Trump, China and the pandemic – with Todd Buchholz, former White House Director of Economic Policy May 27, 2020 In this episode Christian is joined by Todd Buchholz, a former White House Director of Economic Policy, former Managing Director of the Tiger Hedge Fund, now best-selling author, economist and investor. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Todd gives his view on how America is dealing with the crisis and how it could influence the coming [...]
Central London office take-up plummets as employees work from home May 27, 2020 The amount of central London office space leased in the first quarter of the year plunged as employees began working from home and the UK entered its coronavirus lockdown. Office space leased in the capital between January and March reached 2.7m sq ft, down 30 per cent on the previous quarter. The government introduced a [...]
House buyer demand surges after government lifts property market restrictions May 27, 2020 Demand from potential house buyers spiked 88 per cent after lockdown restrictions on England’s property market eased earlier this month, according to the latest research. However, the pent-up demand varied between cities, according to the latest research by Zoopla, and the rebound in London has been less pronounced than other English cities. The research found [...]
Pharma giant Merck enter coronavirus vaccine race with three treatments May 26, 2020 US pharmaceuticals giant Merck has thrown itself into the race to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus disease with the purchase of Austrian vaccine maker Themis. The Themis vaccine, which is being developed in partnership with the Pasteur Institute in Paris, is based on a modified measles vaccine. Doses are already being produced for clinical [...]
Renault to cut 5,000 jobs by 2024 – report May 26, 2020 French automotive giant Renault is set to announce plans to cut up to 5,000 jobs over the next five years in a cost-saving drive, local media reported. The company, which is still in the process of securing a €5bn state loan in order to bolster its coronavirus-stricken finances, is looking to save €2bn in costs. [...]