Home to roost? Poultry industry warns of ‘catastrophic’ border disruption January 19, 2021 The UK’s chicken farmers have become the latest food suppliers to slam the government over new Brexit border rules, which are causing enormous disruption to supply chains. Under the new rules, exporters are facing an entirely new set of customs rules, with products of animal origin needing new paperwork and checks at borders. “These issues [...]
Transport for London drops plans to make all stations cashless January 19, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has today dropped plans to make all of its underground, overground, and DLR stations cashless. Last year the transport operator proposed plans to make all ticket machines across its network cashless as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But after lobbying from campaign groups like London Travel Watch, it has elected [...]
London Metal Exchange to shut iconic trading ring January 19, 2021 It survived two world wars, the Spanish flu, and the numerous financial crises, but now the London Metal Exchange’s iconic open-outcry trading ring is set to close for good. Sky News reported that the trading ring, with its distinctive red circular sofa, would be shut as part of a review into modernising the LME. Since [...]
FTSE 100 opens higher as markets await Yellen grilling January 19, 2021 The FTSE 100 slipped back after a strong start this morning as markets await testimony this afternoon from incoming US treasury secretary Janet Yellen. After a quiet day yesterday which saw the index shed 0.2 per cent, London’s leading market rose 0.6 per cent at the opening bell to 6,762 points. But after a couple [...]
One in eight people had Covid antibodies last month, says ONS January 19, 2021 Around one in eight people in England had coronavirus antibodies in December, according to estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), meaning that they would have had the disease previously. The estimates, which are based off sample blood tests from people aged 16 and over, show that 12.1 per cent of people in England [...]
Rio Tinto sees iron production tick up on rising China demand January 19, 2021 Mining giant Rio Tinto said that iron ore production had increased in the final quarter of the year on the back of increased demand from China. The Anglo-Australian company said that output from its Pilbara iron assets had risen 3.0 per cent in the last three months despite the challenges of Cyclone Damien and the [...]
Greencoat buys 24 per cent Texan wind farm stake from RWE January 19, 2021 UK renewables fund Greencoat has bought a 24 per cent stake in four wind farms in Texas from energy giant RWE. The investment manager will pay $160m for the stake, giving the 207 megawatt project an enterprise value of around $300m. As a result of the sale, RWE will own just 25 per cent of [...]
Fishing industry to be compensated for Brexit ‘teething problems’ January 19, 2021 Boris Johnson has said that the fishing industry would be compensated for any problems caused by new post Brexit customs procedures. Johnson, echoing comments he made last week, said that problems at the borders, which have seen some exporters unable to sell their catch, were “teething problems”. A fund of £23m will be made available [...]
FTSE 100 falls as recovery concerns weigh on markets January 18, 2021 The FTSE 100 is fell today as last week’s slide in investor confidence continued. London’s premier index closed 0.2 per cent down to stand at 6,723 points. The FTE 250 of midcaps went the other way, rising 0.1 per cent to 20,646 points. In a sluggish day of trading, markets never really got going, with [...]
US Capitol threat revealed to be nearby fire January 18, 2021 A nearby fire saw the US Capitol complex locked down this afternoon in the clearest sign yet of fraying nerves in Washington DC ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden. With the 46th President set to be sworn in on Wednesday, thousands of security forces have been deployed in the capital amid safety concerns. After [...]