UK coronavirus death toll rises by 324 to 39,369 June 2, 2020 A further 324 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, bringing the death toll to 39,369, according to figures released today by the Department of Health. As of 9am this morning, 135,643 tests were carried out or dispatched with 1,613 positive results. However, the number of people tested was unavailable again, according to the [...]
Easyjet and Carnival poised to drop out of FTSE 100 June 2, 2020 Easyjet and cruise operator Carnival are set to lose their positions in the FTSE 100 after the coronavirus crisis sent the value of their shares crashing. The travel restrictions have hit the budget airline hard as it lost as much of two thirds of its market value during the peak of the crisis. There will [...]
Domestic M&A rises in first quarter despite coronavirus, as foreign takeovers fall June 2, 2020 UK M&A increased in the first quarter despite the outbreak of coronavirus, while foreign takeovers fell to their lowest level since 2017. During the first quarter, domestic M&A – where UK companies acquire other UK companies – was worth £3.2bn, an increase of £1.1bn in the same period last year, according to the Office for [...]
Downing Street scraps weekend coronavirus briefings June 2, 2020 Downing Street has announced it will no longer be holding the coronavirus press briefings on weekends, due to low TV ratings. Number 10 said the briefings will continue Monday to Friday and the Prime Minister will host at least one a week, according to the PM’s spokesman. Before the Open: Get the jump on the [...]
Independent autopsy finds George Floyd died of asphyxia June 1, 2020 An independent autopsy has found that George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis has sparked riots over the past week, died of asphyxia. The private autopsy report commissioned by Floyd’s family found his death was a homicide from “asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain”. [...]
London Stock Exchange finds broad backing for shorter trading hours June 1, 2020 The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has found strong support for shorter trading hours after a public consultation with the industry. Feedback from the LSE’s public consultation found a “significant majority” of respondents thought a reduction of market hours “could lead to improvements in diversity and wellbeing”. A small number suggested a “lunch break” as an [...]
O2 reopening after lockdown with virtual queueing technology June 1, 2020 O2 will reopen its stores across England this month, with new layouts and a virtual queuing system as part of its safety measures during the pandemic. At the so-called future stores, which will open from 15 June, customers will skip queues and instead join a virtual system. They will receive a text when an advisor [...]
US manufacturing remained in ‘deep downturn’ in May June 1, 2020 Manufacturing output in the US continued to contract in May, as client demand weakened further and a negative outlook drove employment down. US factories saw output slump to 39.8 in May, according to IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data. Anything below 50 represents a contraction. The figure is up marginally from 36.1 in April, [...]
Banks warn up to half of ‘bounce back’ borrowers could default June 1, 2020 UK banks have reportedly warned that up to half of the government’s “bounce back loans” are unlikely to be repaid. Senior bankers have estimated between 40 and 50 per cent of the bounce back borrowers could default on the debt, according to a report by the Financial Times. As businesses brace for a slow economic [...]
Facebook employees stage rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg’s inaction on Trump June 1, 2020 Facebook staff have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with Mark Zuckerberg over his refusal to act against Donald Trump. Employees at all levels of the company, including some senior executives, took to criticising Zuckerberg for his decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump. The president appeared [...]
