Universal to release films online due to coronavirus spread March 17, 2020 Universal Pictures said it will make its films available online the same day they are released in the cinema, as the coronavirus keeps people worldwide in lockdown. The decision by Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, will take effect from 10 April with the release of Dreamworks Animations firm Trolls World Tour. The move ends the traditional approach of [...]
Coronavirus: Law and accountancy firms move to remote working in face of covid-19 pandemic March 16, 2020 A string of big legal and accountancy firms have triggered emergency remote working plans this week, sending thousands of workers home as the coronavirus crisis rages. Big Four audit firm Deloitte is asking all its UK staff to work from home tomorrow, while KPMG is allowing staff to work from home if they choose. Magic [...]
Coronavirus: Audit regulator says financial results could be delayed as it holds weekly calls with big accountancy firms March 16, 2020 The audit watchdog the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said today it was holding weekly calls with large accountancy firms amid worries the coronavirus epidemic could disrupt audits and delay financial reports. The FRC issued updated guidance for auditors today which it said may be “facing practical difficulties in carrying out audits as a result of [...]
Funeral company Dignity one of the leading risers on London Stock Exchange amid coronavirus fears March 16, 2020 Funeral company Dignity was one of the leading risers on the London Stock Exchange this morning in a bleak pointer to who investors think could do well out of the coronavirus epidemic. Dignity was up 2.5 per cent at 333p this morning, amid a stock market rout that came despite a dramatic intervention by the [...]
UK litigation funders boost assets to £1.9bn March 16, 2020 UK litigation funders increased assets to £1.9bn in 2019, an increase of 46 per cent on the previous year. Analysis of the balance sheets of the UK’s top 15 litigation funders by law firm RPC found a jump in asset value from £1.3bn in 2017-18 to £1.9bn last year. Assets held by litigation funders have [...]
Coronavirus: How is business in Italy coping with the crisis? March 15, 2020 Milan. City of the Sforzas, La Scala, Internazionale, Giorgio Armani and Dario Fo. The Lombard capital is also the beating heart of the Italian economy; home to the stock exchange; Italian business success stories such as Unicredit, Versace and Pirelli; and outposts of overseas financial institutions, multinationals, law firms and consultancy giants. Sadly, Milan is [...]
US and Germany scrap over coronavirus vaccine company March 15, 2020 Berlin is trying to prevent Washington from persuading a German company working on a coronavirus vaccine to move to the US. German government sources told news agency Reuters that the US was looking into how it could gain access to a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by German pharmaceuticals company Curevac. German newspaper the Welt [...]
Burford Capital delays its results blaming coronavirus disruption March 12, 2020 Burford Capital today said it was delaying its financial results after disruption from the coronavirus outbreak. The litigation funder said it had closed its New York office and was delaying its results by two-to-three weeks because of the disruption. Burford said two of its finance staff, who are mainly based in its New York office, [...]
US President Donald Trump pictured with confirmed coronavirus patient March 12, 2020 US President Donald Trump last week met a Brazilian official who has now tested positive for coronavirus. Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro’s communications adviser has tested positive for coronavirus, days after accompanying him on a trip to the US where they met Trump. A picture from last Saturday shows Fabio Wajngarten posing next to Trump at [...]
Two further London coronavirus deaths taking total to 10 March 12, 2020 Two further coronavirus patients have died in London hospitals taking the total of UK coronavirus deaths to 10, the Department of Health said today. An 89-year-old with underlying health conditions died at Charing Cross Hospital, while a woman in her 60s died at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. The London deaths mean 10 UK coronavirus patients [...]