Coronavirus: Consumers prepare to cancel holidays over virus fears February 24, 2020 A third of British consumers are prepared to cancel holiday plans if the coronavirus persists. New research from Retail Economics shows that 31 per cent of consumers are prepared to cancel travel plans. It puts £17.2bn of holiday spending on hold as people await clarity over the virus. A disparity in the perception over the [...]
Coronavirus: Four new cases among ship evacuees in the UK February 23, 2020 Four UK nationals who were on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and evacuated to Britain have tested positive for coronavirus. The Department of Health said the latest cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 13. A repatriation flight carrying 32 Britons and Europeans from the cruise ship [...]
Hedge funds bet against Ladbrokes owner GVC February 23, 2020 Hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin is building a bet against Ladbrokes owner GVC as it battles a potential increase in regulation. Griffin, the founder of hedge fund Citadel, has taken an £80m bet against the bookmaker, as other traders also increased their positions, according to the Sunday Times. It has made GVC the FTSE 250 [...]
Hammerson expected to slash dividend amid high street woes February 23, 2020 Property development firm Hammerson will reportedly slash its dividend and write down the value of its assets in its results this week. Peel Hunt analysts have forecasted that the shopping centre owner will cut its dividend by 30 per cent, according to reports in the Sunday Times. Analysts estimate that the value of Hammerson’s assets, [...]
Fund managers snap up luxury brands on coronavirus dip February 23, 2020 Leading fund managers are buying millions of pounds of shares in luxury brands after significant falls triggered by the coronavirus outbreak. Fund manager Nick Train, along with bosses from Rathbone Brothers, Jupiter and BNY Mellon, are taking advantage of the dip according to the Sunday Times. Train, who manages the Lindsell Train UK Equity fund, [...]
Bernie Sanders declares victory in Nevada caucuses February 23, 2020 Bernie Sanders has solidified his status as the Democratic front-runner in the presidential election after declaring victory in the Nevada caucuses. The momentum for Sanders, who is a self-declared socialist, comes as the support of moderate Democrats is split between his rivals. Former vice president Joe Biden is on track for a second-place finish in [...]
Greggs honours Stormzy with first ever ‘black card’ February 20, 2020 Stormzy has become the first person to receive a Greggs black card, as part of the chain’s VIP service which it launched today. Ahead of his European tour, Greggs sent the rapper a black membership card with a pair of Greggs slippers. In a welcome video, broadcasted to Stormzy’s followers, the new concierge service boasts [...]
Rathbone Brothers annual funds rise to £50bn February 20, 2020 Investment management firm Rathbone Brothers reached a significant milestone in reaching £50.4bn in total funds under management and administration. The figures Rathbone’s total funds under management and administration stood at £50.4bn, a 14 per cent inrease on the £44.1bn seen at the end of 2018. Total funds in Rathbone’s investment management unit grew 12 per [...]
Google users set to lose EU data protections after Brexit February 20, 2020 Google is planning to move its British users’ accounts out of the control of the European Union privacy regulators and place them under US jurisdiction. Ireland, where Google and other US tech firms have their headquarters, remains in the EU and its data is protected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Reuters reported that [...]
Emerging markets help Smith & Nephew beat annual sales record February 20, 2020 Improved underlying revenue growth of 4.4 per cent has propelled Smith & Nephew’s sales above $5bn (£3.8bn) for the first time in its history. The figures Underlying revenue growth for the year was up 4.4 per cent propelling sales above $5bn for the first time. Underlying sales growth from emerging markets was 16.1 per cent [...]
