Before the Bell: Europe called higher as Biden is due to announce $2trn stimulus January 14, 2021 Volatility in the markets was low across the board yesterday. There was no change to the macroeconomic outlook. “Hence why trading ranges were relatively small. Equity markets in Europe and the US had muted sessions,” David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, tells City A.M. this morning. “The health crisis is still bubbling away [...]
Covid immunity ‘lasts five months’ but may not prevent transmission January 14, 2021 People infected with Covid-19 are likely to be naturally protected against reinfection for around five months, according to the first government-funded study on the issue. The first report from Public Health England’s (PHE) Siren study found that antibodies from past coronavirus infection lasted an average of at least five months. However, scientists warned that those [...]
City workers urged to complain if forced into the office January 13, 2021 The City of London Corporation has called on workers to complain if they are being pressured into coming into work during England’s third national lockdown. The Corporation has urged Square Mile workers to file an anonymous complaint if their employers are forcing to break lockdown rules, which state that everyone must stay at home unless [...]
Breaking: UK records more than 1,500 daily Covid deaths January 13, 2021 The UK has recorded its highest ever daily Covid death rate, as ministers today warned the “worst is yet to come”. Latest figures from Public Health England showed a further 1,564 coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours. The number exceeds the previous record of 1,325 deaths last Friday, and takes the total number of [...]
Exclusive: Pimlico Plumbers plots ‘no jab, no job’ policy January 13, 2021 Pimlico Plumbers has become the first company in the UK to announce a “no jab, no job” policy, after its chairman revealed plans to spend upwards of £1m rolling out mandatory vaccinations for its staff. Speaking to City A.M, founder Charlie Mullins said: “Once [the vaccine’s] out there and it becomes private, I’m happy to [...]
UK vaccine rollout was ‘lumpy’ at first, minister admits January 13, 2021 The UK’s vaccine tsar has admitted the nation’s largest ever vaccination programme was “lumpy at the outset” as he faced a grilling in the Commons. Nadhim Zahawi told the Science and Technology Committee: “I now have line of sight of deliveries all the way through to the end of February and [am] getting more confident [...]
Covid: UK trials new drug that could cut risk of severe illness by 80 per cent January 13, 2021 The UK has launched large-scale trials of a new drug that could cut the risk of Covid patients developing severe illness by as much as 80 per cent. Thirty-four-year-old Alexandra Constantin became the first patient to receive the drug, produced by London-listed biotech firm Synairgen, after receiving the dose at Hull Royal Infirmary yesterday afternoon. [...]
Christine Lagarde backs economic outlook despite Covid-19 resurgence in Europe January 13, 2021 The eurozone economy will rebound this year provided lockdown measures curb the Covid-19 pandemic, according to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. Speaking earlier today, Lagarde highlighted the importance of easing lockdown restrictions and delivering successful vaccination programmes, conceding that early rollouts had posed challenges. Last month, the ECB predicted economic growth of 3.9 per [...]
Staff returning to offices three days a week would be ‘royal result’ post-pandemic January 13, 2021 If staff who have been working from home during the pandemic return to the office for three days a week post-Covid, it will be a “right royal result”, David Buik has said. Buik, who has worked for more than 50 years in the City of London and contributes to the Great Wave of Change podcast, [...]
Ministers mull moving patients to hotels as hospitals become overwhelmed January 13, 2021 The NHS is considering plans to transfer patients to hotels as hospitals become overwhelmed with Covid-19, the health secretary said this morning. Matt Hancock announced the government would not rule out any options to relieve pressures on the NHS and refused to speculate about how long lockdown restrictions could last. The health secretary told BBC [...]