UK coronavirus cases surge to new total of 51 March 3, 2020 The number of UK coronavirus cases rocketed to 51 today, a climb of 12 new cases, the government revealed today. Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the climb in parliament today after the UK recorded four more cases yesterday to take the total to 39. The government today outlined worst-case scenario measures if the UK coronavirus [...]
G7 ‘ready to act’ to minimise economic impact of coronavirus March 3, 2020 Finance ministers and central bank governors from the G7 nations have said they are “ready to act” to minimise the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, pledging to use “all appropriate policy tools” including fiscal measures. Following a conference call earlier today, the G7 issued a statement saying that action would be taken by each member [...]
FTSE 100 gains cool ahead of G7 coronavirus call March 3, 2020 The FTSE 100 index has risen for a second straight session this morning, as policymakers across the world indicated they would take measures to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Britain’s blue-chip index rose as much as 2.21 per cent following the open, with traders taking their cue from a largely positive showing [...]
UK coronavirus battle plan: Businesses warned that a fifth of workforce could be absent March 3, 2020 Up to a fifth of the UK’s workforce could be made absent by coronavirus during its peak weeks, the government warned as part of its action plan published today. Downing Street is bracing itself for a reasonable worst-case scenario, warning that it is “more likely than not that the UK will be significantly affected”. Up [...]
G7 ‘will not call for fiscal or monetary support’ in coronavirus statement March 3, 2020 The G7 nations will voice their determination to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, but reportedly will not directly call for new government spending or coordinated interest rate cuts. Finance ministers and central bank governors from the G7 are due to issue a statement following a conference call on the epidemic at midday, [...]
Japan may postpone Tokyo Olympics as coronavirus cases mount March 3, 2020 Japan may be allowed to postpone the Tokyo Olympics until the end of 2020, the country’s minister responsible for the games said today. Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto has said Japan’s agreement with the International Olympic Committee to host the 2020 games could be deferred until the winter. “The contract calls for the games to be [...]
ECB ‘working on lending scheme’ for small businesses hit by coronavirus March 3, 2020 The European Central Bank is reportedly working on measures to provide liquidity to businesses hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Measures being considered by the ECB include a targeted longer-term refinancing operation directed at small and medium-sized firms, which could be hardest hit by a virus-related downturn, sources familiar with the discussion [...]
Coronavirus concerns see hand sanitiser sales leap 255 per cent March 3, 2020 Coronavirus fears saw sales of hand sanitiser spike 255 per cent in February, according to supermarket data released today. Sakes of liquid soaps also rose seven per cent as shoppers hit the shelves as the number of coronavirus cases outside China rose sharply last month, research firm Kantar said. Sales of household cleaners jumped 10 [...]
No fly zone: As coronavirus fears grow, airlines must brace for the worst March 3, 2020 One of last month’s more outlandish news stories was the report that the coronavirus outbreak had caused an upsurge in private jet inquiries. More wealthy travellers than ever, it seems, are willing to pay thousands of pounds an hour for a plane unto themselves, in an attempt to dodge the risk of getting infected. The [...]
It may be a while before the fog lifts on Italy March 3, 2020 The Italian economy was already looking rather parlous at the start of this year, with global bodies like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and European Commission all predicting almost negligible growth rates. Even the January forecast from Italy’s official statistics agency suggested that GDP would increase by just 0.2 per cent over the course [...]