‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain
UBS sticks with planned dividend despite global calls for payout freeze March 30, 2020 UBS intends to pay its 2019 dividend as planned, the Swiss banking giant said today, despite guidance from Swiss authorities and international banking groups to limit payouts due to the catastrophic economic impact of coronavirus. The bank’s proposed dividend of $0.73 (59p) in cash per share is an increase of almost six per cent on [...]
UK banks likely to review dividends amid coronavirus crisis March 30, 2020 British banks are likely to want to review their dividend plans for this year given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy, an industry body said today, as lenders come under increasing pressure to scrap dividends. “Given current uncertainties and the importance of finance providers being able to play their vital role in [...]
Barclays outlines new climate policy amid mounting pressure from activists March 30, 2020 Barclays said it plans to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 and will only provide financing to projects aligned with the Paris Agreement climate goals. The London-based bank said it will table a resolution on its new climate policy for shareholders to vote on at its annual general meeting (AGM) in [...]
UK coronavirus outbreak is slowing and antibody test could be ready in days, says top scientist March 30, 2020 The coronavirus epidemic in the United Kingdom is showing signs of slowing and antibody tests for the disease could be ready in days, a top epidemiologist has said. “We think the epidemic is just about slowing in the UK right now,” Neil Ferguson, a professor of mathematical biology at Imperial College London, told the BBC [...]
Mothercare franchising deal with Boots delayed by coronavirus March 30, 2020 Mothercare said today that the start of a franchising deal with Boots has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. In an update to the stock exchange this morning, Mothercare said its global franchise partners “are facing considerable challenges” related to the outbreak, adding that it will “not be immune to the effect of widespread store [...]
EY resigns as auditor of Travelex owner Finablr as board members quit March 30, 2020 EY has resigned as auditor of Finablr after the troubled payments firm could not accommodate some adjustments it requested, including changing the composition of its board. Trading in the London-listed firm’s shares was suspended earlier this month after Finablr warned it was preparing for potential insolvency. It has launched an investigation into its finances. Finablr [...]
Cash-poor UK firms lobby for looser rules on stock offerings March 25, 2020 Advisers to cash-strapped British firms are lobbying regulators to loosen rules governing new stock offerings, in the hope it could make it easier for struggling companies to raise funds. An industry body representing investment banks is asking the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to increase the maximum allowed discount for equity sales on the London Stock [...]
Softbank hits back at Moody’s following double downgrade March 25, 2020 Softbank has demanded that Moody’s remove all of its bond ratings after the ratings agency downgraded the conglomerate’s debt by two notches and said it was reviewing the tech investment giant for a further downgrade. Softbank immediately hit back, accusing Moody’s of having based its decision on “its biased and mistaken views” and “excessively pessimistic [...]
London Stock Exchange to allow dividend delay over coronavirus disruption March 25, 2020 The London Stock Exchange is to allow companies listed on its market to delay the payment of dividends by up to 30 days as markets grapple with the impact of coronavirus. “As a result of market conditions and issuers implementing their contingency plans, the Exchange has received enquiries from issuers and their advisers regarding deferral [...]
Coronavirus advice for workers must be clearer, says business committee chair Rachel Reeves March 25, 2020 The government needs to issue clearer coronavirus guidance for workers to address concerns employees are being unnecessarily forced to go into work, said Rachel Reeves, chair of the business select committee. In a letter to business secretary Alok Sharma, Reeves said the committee had received hundreds of messages from workers concerned about their employers’ response [...]
