Coronavirus: Global trade offers a route to recovery April 7, 2020 For years now, we have had to put up with endless rhetoric about how political and economic interconnectivity between countries has demonstrably failed to deliver prosperity for all. # Depending on whether you were on the liberal free-trade, or the more protectionist side of the Brexit (remember that) argument, globalisation as we have known it [...]
London shopper numbers jumped 50 per cent last weekend despite UK coronavirus lockdown April 7, 2020 Retail footfall in the capital leapt on Sunday as the warm weather tempted Londoners to defy the UK coronavirus lockdown. Footfall soared 51.4 per cent on Sunday compared to the previous weekend, prompting concerns that sunny weather over the upcoming Easter weekend could encourage people to break lockdown rules. Across the UK footfall was up [...]
Who’s in charge if Prime Minister Boris Johnson is incapacitated? April 7, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to an intensive care unit last night as his condition deteriorated after testing positive for coronavirus over 10 days ago. The PM, who is being treated at St Thomas’ hospital in London, was transferred on Monday night as a precaution in case he needs a ventilator. In the short [...]
Coronavirus: Japan declares state of emergency April 7, 2020 Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared a state of emergency in capital Tokyo and six other major metropolitan areas in an attempt to fight new coronavirus cases. The measures, which will last a month, will cover around 44 per cent of Japan’s population. Speaking in parliament today, the Japanese premier said: “We have decided [...]
UK house prices face unpredictable blow from coronavirus after March rise April 7, 2020 UK house prices jumped in March, before the impact of the coronavirus lockdown was felt. House prices were up three per cent year on year. However, on a monthly basis, UK house prices were flat. The average UK house price was £240,384 last month, according to the latest Halifax research. However, the outbreak of coronavirus [...]
Coronavirus: How one FTSE 250 firm is keeping staff on board April 7, 2020 The destruction caused by the Covid-19 outbreak is difficult to comprehend, robbing people of their lives and livelihoods without mercy. Our NHS, charities, large businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs have all been hit hard, with the elderly and vulnerable hit the hardest. I’ve been in business for 40 years now. Together we’ve survived the tornado of [...]
Coronavirus: Luxury brands braced for a bumpy ride April 7, 2020 It’s hard to erase the memory of red-and-white sale signs in the world’s most prestigious stores on Madison Avenue, New York, at the end of 2008. Stores that rarely offered discounts in their flagships slashed prices to move stock to very few shoppers. The luxury sector is not quite witnessing the same carnage as the [...]
Coronavirus: WH Smith raises £165.9m through share placing April 7, 2020 WH Smith has raised around £165.9m through a share placing to shore up its balance sheet amid the coronavirus crisis. The retailer was forced to tap investors for a cash injection after the outbreak forced it to close its travel business and the majority of high street stores. WH Smith can now access a £120m [...]
Coronavirus: World leaders express support for Boris Johnson after hospitalisation April 7, 2020 World leaders have expressed their support for Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister was admitted to intensive care last night. Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ hospital on Sunday evening with persistent symptoms of Covid-19. Downing Street said he was moved to the unit on the advice of his medical team and was receiving “excellent [...]
China reports no new coronavirus deaths for the first time April 7, 2020 China reported no new coronavirus deaths overnight for the first time since the outbreak began in Wuhan at the start of 2020, as hopes grow that the global pandemic is easing. European countries hit badly by Covid-19, Italy, Spain, Germany and France, also reported lower new case numbers yesterday. And New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, [...]