FTSE 100 climbs after EU strikes huge stimulus deal July 21, 2020 The FTSE 100 rose after European Union leaders struck a deal to create a huge €750bn (£680bn) recovery fund to try to rouse the continent’s economy from the coronavirus crisis. London’s blue-chip index climbed 0.5 per cent to 6,292 points. The slightly smaller FTSE 250 index rose 0.8 per cent. Read more: EU leaders reach [...]
Small companies slam plans for big Making Tax Digital extension July 21, 2020 Small businesses have slammed the government’s planned expansion of the Making Tax Digital programme, saying it means more cost and paperwork for companies at a time when they are under great pressure. The government today said it will extend its tax digitisation programme to 4.7m of the UK’s smallest companies and self-employed workers from April [...]
Companies borrow £48bn through UK coronavirus loan schemes July 21, 2020 Close to £48bn has now been lent out through the government’s coronavirus loan schemes, with the bounce back loan (BBL) programme offering by far the most support for businesses. It comes as the UK government accelerates plans to reopen the economy. Pubs, restaurants and cafes were opened at the start of this month and gyms, [...]
Lockdown blues: Breakups and divorces support UK house prices July 21, 2020 The property market is currently defying gravity, with asking prices hitting an all-time high in July and spirits buoyant after the chancellor slashed the stamp duty homes tax. But estate agents say a less-publicised factor has been helping the property sector ride out economic turbulence better than most had predicted: A surge in lockdown breakups [...]
FTSE 100 falls as rising coronavirus cases dent optimism July 20, 2020 The FTSE 100 slipped in morning trading as investors weighed rising coronavirus cases in the US and Hong Kong against hopes that a vaccine may soon be found. London’s main stock index dropped 0.7 per cent to 6,246 points. The FTSE 250 index of slightly smaller companies fell 0.2 per cent. Germany’s Dax rose 0.4 [...]
Financial pressure on UK households eases but pessimism sets in July 20, 2020 Britons’ views of their financial situation continued to improve in July after deteriorating at a record pace in April, figures have shown, but households became more pessimistic about the future. IHS Markit’s household finance index rose to 41.5 in July from 40.7 in June. That was above the long-term average but still lower than the [...]
EU leaders make progress in €750bn coronavirus fund talks July 20, 2020 European leaders edged close to agreeing to the terms of a €750bn coronavirus bailout fund this morning after the “frugal four” governments signalled they were willing to compromise. Negotiations ended in the small hours of the morning after the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden were satisfied with €390bn of the emergency fund being made available [...]
Andrew Bailey says an uneven economic recovery has begun July 17, 2020 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said the UK economy is starting to recover from April’s lockdown, although he stressed that the rebound had been uneven so far. Bailey said activity was resuming “quite strongly” in the housing and car markets. But he said the hospitality and entertainment sectors were still struggling. His comments [...]
Boris Johnson: Social distancing may end in November July 17, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said social distancing could be scrapped by November as the government tries to move the country back to “significant normality” before Christmas. “It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at [...]
Boris Johnson says England will move to local coronavirus lockdowns July 17, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said councils and the central government will be able to implement local lockdowns to tackle coronavirus outbreaks in a major shift in policy. “From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas,” Johnson said. “They will be able to close specific premises, shut local outdoor spaces and cancel [...]
