China Covid-19 case surge and Brexit disruption worry UK firms most, survey finds February 6, 2023 A surge in Covid-19 cases in China gumming up supply chains threatens to snag the UK economy, a survey out today reveals. Trade flows hobbled by workers in China being too sick to work after contracting the virus or Beijing reimposing lockdowns in response to a rise in cases ranks as the top concern among [...]
China ‘looking into’ accusations of sending spy satellite ballon to US airspace February 3, 2023 China said it is looking into reports one of its spy satellite has been flying in US airspace. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China is a “responsible country” which has “always strictly abided by international laws” and “has no intention to violate the territory and airspace of any sovereign countries”. She added: “As for [...]
More Covid restrictions lifted: China and Hong Kong scrap need for PCR test to travel between authorities February 3, 2023 Travel between Hong Kong and China will no longer require Covid PCR tests or be limited, authorities have announced. Hong Kong’s tourism industry has suffered since 2019 after months of political strife that at times turned into violent clashes between protesters and police, as well as harsh entry restrictions implemented during the pandemic. “From Monday, [...]
BA and Virgin to restart flights to China after three years as Beijing welcomes back visitors February 2, 2023 Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have announced they will return to China for the first time in three years following Beijing’s reopening. Richard Branson’s airline – which stopped operating flights into China in December 2020 – announced today it will resume daily flights between Heathrow and Shanghai from 1 May. Meanwhile British Airways (BA) will [...]
Taiwan scrambles fighter jets and puts navy on alert after Chinese incursions February 1, 2023 Taiwan has scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations of 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships. The Chinese deployment is part of Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy. The large-scale manoeuvres come as Beijing increases preparations for a potential blockade [...]
Will the global economy avoid a recession? Some people think so January 24, 2023 The global economy will narrowly avoid a recession this year due to China dismantling its zero Covid policy, forecasters have predicted today. A boost from the world’s second biggest economy re-entering the global community is set to power world GDP 1.9 per cent this year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Beijing’s surprise scrapping of [...]
The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on Chinese New Year, air fares and edible economics January 24, 2023 | City Talk The notebook is where interesting people say interesting things. Today it’s Victoria Scholar, Head of Investment at Interactive Investor, on Chinese New Year, why air fares are on the increase and what we can learn about economics from food As the Chinese New Year begins, investors are increasingly turning their attention back to markets in [...]
Burberry: China’s covid restrictions flatten sales as Europeans ramp up luxury item spend January 18, 2023 Heavy Covid restrictions in China weighed down sales for luxury British fashion giant Burberry in the third quarter of last year. In the 13 weeks to December, the UK firm reported £756m in retail revenue in its comparable store sales around the world, a one per cent increase on the previous year. Sales in China [...]
China economy grows at slowest pace in 50 years outside Covid as population shrinkage signals long-term decline January 17, 2023 China’s economy is growing at the slowest pace since the 1970s, barring the pandemic, due to tough zero Covid restrictions hitting spending, figures out today reveal. The world’s second biggest economy grew three per cent in the three months to December compared to the same period in 2021, beating the consensus forecast of just 1.6 [...]
LVMH: Shares in luxury giant hit record high amid warning it’s ‘firing last cartridge’ on back of China’s reopening January 17, 2023 Shares of luxury goods giant LVMH soared to a new record high of £703.35 (€795.7bn) this morning, bringing the company’s market capitalisation to £350bn. LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) continues to thrive after China’s reopening at the start of the year proving to be a major boost for the company, which relies heavily on luxury [...]