Coronavirus: Government plots further support for self-employed March 22, 2020 The government is exploring ways to provide additional help to self-employed workers amid concerns millions of Brits have been “excluded” from financial support during the coronavirus crisis. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick today said the government was looking at ways to overcome technical challenges relating to supporting self-employed people. “It is more complicated for the self-employed [...]
Deal or no deal? How coronavirus is impacting M&A March 22, 2020 Deal advisers say they fear the coronavirus crisis could stop M&A in its tracks in the UK, but predict a wave of distressed deals in the coming weeks as struggling businesses are picked up and companies band together to try and ride out the economic shutdown. KPMG’s head of deal advisory in the UK Liz [...]
Coronavirus: FCA urges companies to delay publication of preliminary results March 22, 2020 The City watchdog today urged listed companies to suspend the publication of their interim results for at least two weeks. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said: “The unprecedented events of the last couple of weeks mean that the basis on which companies are reporting and planning is changing rapidly.” It said companies needed to give [...]
UK coronavirus: Death toll jumps to 281 March 22, 2020 The coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 281 as the number of confirmed cases also jumped. The latest figures from the government showed that a further 47 people had died from the virus. As of 9am this morning, 78,340 people had been tested in the UK, and 5,683 had been confirmed positive. [...]
Only 46 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in China March 22, 2020 China has confirmed 46 new cases of coronavirus today, an increase for the fourth consecutive day. All but one of the reported infections were imported from overseas, mostly by Chinese citizens returning from other countries. 14 of the 46 confirmed cases were in the financial hub of Shanghai, while 13 were in Beijing, the nation’s [...]
Estate agents urge government to extend coronavirus support March 22, 2020 Estate agents have urged the government to protect the industry as house viewings drop and sales activity slows due to coronavirus. The sector has called for the government to extend the business rates holiday, which applies to retail and hospitality firms, to estate agent companies. The UK’s housing market looked set to bounce back this [...]
Coronavirus: Primark to close all UK stores as pandemic hits high street March 22, 2020 Primark is set to shutter all 189 of its UK stores from tonight as the coronavirus outbreak threatens to bring the UK high street to its knees. The budget fashion retailer has already closed stores accounting for 20 per cent of its selling space globally, and is now preparing to close its entire store estate. [...]
Coronavirus cases surpass 305,000 globally March 22, 2020 305,046 people worldwide are now confirmed to be infected with coronavirus. Figures also show 13,028, or four per cent, of those infected have since died. Here in the UK, the death toll has risen to 281. However, 95,500, or 31 per cent have recovered from the virus. In the US, New York state has been [...]
F1 teams to help produce 20,000 ventilators for NHS in fight against coronavirus March 22, 2020 Formula One may have brought forward its summer factory shutdown to March and April, but seven UK-based teams are set to mobilise their workforce to produce life-saving ventilators that will be required by the NHS in the fight against coronavirus. McLaren, Williams, Red Bull, Renault, Racing Point and world champion Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team are [...]
British takeaways call for rent holidays as coronavirus puts businesses ‘on the brink’ March 22, 2020 British restaurants and takeaways have urged retail landlords to grant rent holidays as they battle to survive during the coronavirus outbreak. The British Takeaway Campaign (BTC), which represents restaurants, takeaways and small businesses in the supply chain, called for an immediate three-month freeze on rent ahead of quarterly payments due next week. The group warned [...]