Government outlines workplace rules for UK companies to relax lockdown May 4, 2020 Companies must limit hot desking and introduce protective screens once the UK lockdown eases and people return to offices, a government document says. Staff canteens will stay closed while ministers will push employers to encourage home-working and stagger shift times, the draft document reportedly suggests. The business department has drawn up seven such documents that [...]
Asian stocks slip as Donald Trump blames virus on China May 4, 2020 Asian stocks slipped this morning as renewed tensions between the US and China over the origin of coronavirus stunted optimism about the lifting of lockdown measures. With China and Japan on holiday, other Asia-Pacific shares fell 2.5 per cent, according to an MSCI index. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng returned from a two-session holiday to suffer [...]
The City View podcast, from City A.M., with Priya Lakhani OBE May 4, 2020 In this episode, Christian is joined by Priya Lakhani, founder and CEO of Century – an AI-powered education platform. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Priya, who served as a business adviser to the coalition government, gives a candid and forthright assessment of the government’s support packages for businesses. [...]
UK launches 100 per cent state-backed ‘bounce back’ loans May 4, 2020 The UK’s smallest businesses will be able to apply for 100 per cent state-backed so-called bounce back loans worth up to £50,000 from today. The government’s bounce back loans scheme provides micro loans worth 25 per cent of turnover, up to £50,000, just 24 hours after applying for them. The minimum loan amount is £2,000 [...]
Five tests to end UK coronavirus lockdown: Which ones have we met? May 2, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday claimed we are “past the peak and on the downward slope” of the coronavirus outbreak. And he has promised to release a “comprehensive plan” next week that outlines how to end the UK lockdown. “I will be setting out a comprehensive plan next week to explain how we can get [...]
Robot waiters, half the tables, and crossed fingers: How restaurants will reopen after UK lockdown ends May 2, 2020 Robot waiters, staff in masks and two metres between each table. This is what dining out could look like when the UK coronavirus lockdown is eased. At least, for the restaurants that manage to survive. Official government guidance on reopening has been limited so far. However, that could change soon as the Prime Minister said [...]
McDonald’s to reopen for delivery this month May 1, 2020 McDonald’s will reopen some UK restaurants for delivery this month after trialling social distancing measures. The fast food giant will open 15 stores on 13 May, offering a limited menu for delivery only, after successful social distancing trials this week. McDonald’s UK and Ireland chief executive Paul Pomroy said the restaurants selected to reopen will [...]
FTSE 100 extends losses after worst daily drop in a month May 1, 2020 The FTSE 100 extended its losses today after suffering its worst daily drop in a month yesterday as dire economic reports and weak earnings weighed on traders. London’s blue-chip index was down roughly 2.3 per cent at 5,762 points by around 10.20am today. By the mid-afternoon the FTSE 100 had trimmed its drop to just [...]
Moderna and Lonza strike deal to produce possible Covid-19 vaccine May 1, 2020 Moderna and Swiss contract drugmaker Lonza have today announced a deal aimed at manufacturing 1bn doses a year of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. The experimental vaccine, called mRNA-1273, is being tested in an early-stage trial by the US National Institutes for Health. The US drug developer expects to start a mid-stage trial in the second [...]
Coronavirus: Government optimistic UK will hit 100,000 daily testing target May 1, 2020 The government is likely to hit or come close to its daily coronavirus testing target of 100,000 today, according to housing minister Robert Jenrick. As of yesterday morning, the UK had carried out 80,000 tests – 20,000 short of the original target set by health secretary Matt Hancock a month ago. Hitting the goal would [...]