Deja vu: Eurozone businesses back in decline as Covid cases jump October 23, 2020 The Eurozone’s private sector slipped back into decline in October as coronavirus ripped through the region and new restrictions hit countries’ service sectors and wider economies, according to a new survey. The preliminary IHS Markit Eurozone composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – which measures the health of businesses – dropped to 49.4 in October from [...]
Coronavirus: London to lose £10.9bn from tourist spending, Sadiq Khan warns October 23, 2020 London is set to miss out on £10.9bn from a drop in tourist spending as a result of the coronavirus crisis, Sadiq Khan has warned, as footfall in the capital remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Overseas tourists will spend £7.4bn less on goods and services in London this year, while domestic tourists will spend £3.5bn [...]
Travel quarantine: Germany and Sweden in line to be added to ‘red list’ October 22, 2020 Germany and Sweden could be added to the UK’s travel quarantine list this afternoon, with both reporting rising numbers of new coronavirus cases. The two countries are among the last places in Europe to which travellers can go without needing to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the UK. However, both are now [...]
Government ‘significantly underestimating’ airport testing effectiveness, new study finds October 22, 2020 New independent analysis has emerged which calls into question the government’s claim that airport testing for coronavirus will only detect seven per cent of cases. The research, from consultancies Oxera and Edge Health, along with Dr Kit Yates from the University of Bath, says that the methodology used by Public Health England (PHE) was flawed. [...]
Healthcare firm unveils £10 rapid Covid-19 test for back to work push October 22, 2020 A private healthcare firm has unveiled a new low-cost Covid-19 test that it says could help get Brits back to work safely, though scientists have warned more development is needed. The finger-prick test returns results in 10 minutes and is priced from just £10. As well as checking for a Covid-19 infection, it can detect [...]
CBI: Decline in UK manufacturing slowed in October but activity still weak October 22, 2020 UK manufacturing activity continued to decline in the three months October but fell at their slowest pace since March despite a resurgence in coronavirus cases, a new survey showed. Output dropped in 10 of the 17 manufacturing sub-sectors monitored by the CBI’s industrial trends survey, with the aerospace sector leading the drop as the pandemic [...]
Breaking: Test and trace system reaches fewer than six in ten ‘close contacts’ October 22, 2020 Breaking: Test and trace system reaches fewer than six in ten 'close contacts'
Payouts from government’s Covid-19 lending programmes hit £62bn October 22, 2020 The total value of loans paid out under the government’s coronavirus business lending schemes hit almost £62bn last week, new data showed. UK banks had lent a total of £61.9bn to businesses struggling with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as of 18 October, up from £57.3bn the previous month, according to figures from the [...]
British Airways owner IAG nosedives into €1.3bn pandemic loss and cuts flights over winter October 22, 2020 British Airways owner IAG nosedives into €1.3bn pandemic loss and cuts flights over winter
Daily Mail owner raises profit outlook following spike in advertising revenue October 22, 2020 The Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) has raised its full-year profit outlook following a strong hike in advertising revenue, after formally suspending guidance in the initial outbreak of the pandemic. DMGT today said it expects group adjusted revenue for the year to be in the region of £1.205bn to £1.215bn, with adjusted operating profit [...]