Poundland sale delayed due to CEO’s illness amid market volatility March 12, 2020 Poundland owner Steinhoff International has reportedly paused the potential sale of its European arm Pepco amid increased market volatility and its chief executive’s leave of absence. Steinhoff announced last year that it was mulling a range of strategic options for Pepco Group, which contains Poundland, including a potential public listing. However the process has been [...]
Competition watchdog clears Bauer’s regional radio takeover March 12, 2020 The competition watchdog today cleared Bauer Media’s acquisition of dozens of regional radio stations after the media giant agreed to match advertising terms. Bauer last year snapped up almost 50 stations from Celador, Lincs FM, Wireless and UKRD. This included a 50 per cent stake in First Radio Sales Limited, which runs more than 100 [...]
Coronavirus: Sturgeon confirms UK move to delay stage, but schools won’t be closed (yet) March 12, 2020 The UK has entered the delay phase of managing the coronavirus outbreak, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed. Scotland now has 60 confirmed cases of Covid-19. As a result of the move from contain to the second stage, Sturgeon said anyone showing symptoms of the virus – specifically a fever and a persistent cough [...]
London mayoral candidates suspend campaigning over Covid-19 March 12, 2020 Two mayor of London candidates have suspended campaigning due to coronavirus. Rory Stewart and Sian Berry announced today they would halt all ground campaigning and move their entire operations online. They have cancelled all events and have instructed supporters to not go door knocking. Berry said it was “no longer sensible” to continue and would [...]
Go Ahead shares plunge as firm warns on full year profit March 12, 2020 Bus operator Go Ahead Group saw its shares shed over a third of their value today after the firm reduced its full year profit expectations on the back of extended periods of adverse weather. The firm added that it was also expecting the coronavirus impact to have an impact on its results, but could not [...]
Tech giants urged to pre-screen content to stop child sexual abuse March 12, 2020 Tech giants should be forced to pre-screen all content uploaded to their platforms in a bid to stem the “explosion” of online child sexual abuse, an inquiry has found. In a damning report published today the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said tech giants had failed to do everything they could to prevent [...]
Fisheries and finance March 12, 2020 | City Talk Two of the key flashpoints in the Brexit negotiations could have wide-reaching consequences for industry and the pound. In a recent webinar from moneycorp talk, economist Vicky Pryce highlighted the importance of fisheries and financial services to the Brexit negotiations. If we look at the numbers alone, it would seem that financial services should take [...]
Two further London coronavirus deaths taking total to 10 March 12, 2020 Two further coronavirus patients have died in London hospitals taking the total of UK coronavirus deaths to 10, the Department of Health said today. An 89-year-old with underlying health conditions died at Charing Cross Hospital, while a woman in her 60s died at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. The London deaths mean 10 UK coronavirus patients [...]
ECB to let eurozone banks breach key requirements due to coronavirus March 12, 2020 The European Central Bank said that eurozone banks will be allowed to fall short of some key capital and cash requirements as lenders grapple with the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement came soon after ECB monetary policymakers announced a new stimulus package, marking an unprecedented synchronised action by the central bank’s two [...]
BBC could take pensioners to court over licence fee evasion March 12, 2020 Pensioners could be hauled in front of a judge amid an ongoing row over payment of the BBC licence fee, the broadcaster’s director general has said. Lord Tony Hall today admitted that some people in their 80s and 90s could be taken to court if they fail to pay the £157.50 charge. Speaking during a [...]