City minister: Square Mile will not turn into Singapore-on-Thames January 3, 2021 Britain will not slash regulatory standards in the City in a bid to win business after Brexit, the City minister has said. Addressing concerns about the future prosperity of the Square Mile, John Glen denied that rules in the financial hub would be relaxed to improve competition, insisting that its reputation relied on its regulatory [...]
Labour MP Jo Stevens in hospital with Covid-19 January 3, 2021 Labour’s shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for Covid-19. A statement posted on the Cardiff Central MP’s Twitter account read: “Jo has asked us to let you know that she is being treated in hospital for Covid. “Thanks for all your good wishes we will give an update when we can.” [...]
Software startup Ondato moves to London in post-Brexit boost December 31, 2020 Software startup Ondato is establishing new headquarters in London, marking a show of confidence in the UK’s booming tech scene after Brexit. Ondato, which operates biometric authentication software, said it was “undeterred” by the UK’s departure from the EU and would use its new base in Canary Wharf to drive further expansion in Europe. The [...]
UK and Turkey sign post-Brexit free trade deal December 29, 2020 The UK and Turkey have signed a free trade deal that will secure tariff-free trading arrangements between the two countries after Britain leaves the EU. The continuity deal, signed today by trade secretary Liz Truss, means the existing trade relationship will be maintained after the Brexit transition period ends this week. The two countries also [...]
Mobile roaming: Will I be charged for using my phone in the EU after Brexit? December 29, 2020 Since 2017, Brits travelling in the EU have been able to enjoy using their mobile phone without racking up any additional roaming charges. The UK has now secured a post-Brexit trade deal with the bloc, ensuring a smoother transition after the transition period ends on 31 December. But Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove this week [...]
Ryanair blocks UK investors from buying shares in Brexit move December 29, 2020 Ryanair today confirmed it will block British investors from buying shares after the UK leaves the EU on 1 January. The budget airline said UK nationals will no longer be allowed to purchase ordinary shares — a rule that already applies to all non-EU nationals. While existing shareholders will not be forced to sell their [...]
The Hut Group ramps up growth plans with £300m takeover spree December 29, 2020 The Hut Group has forked out more than £300m to acquire three companies as the online fashion and beauty retailer pursues an aggressive growth plan after its stock market float. The Manchester-based ecommerce group today said it will snap up skincare brand Dermstore from US retail giant Target for $350m (£259m). It has also acquired [...]
British chipmaker Graphcore raises $222m as AI rivalry heats up December 29, 2020 UK chipmaker Graphcore has raised $222m (£164m) in fresh funding as it gears up for growing demand for its technology. The series E funding round takes the Bristol-based firm’s valuation to $2.8bn, making it one of the country’s most valuable unicorns. Graphcore specialises in so-called intelligence processing units (IPU) — a form of chip designed [...]
UK tech jobs bounce back as investment hits record high December 29, 2020 UK tech job vacancies have bounced back strongly as Britain’s booming tech sector shrugged off the Covid-19 pandemic to attract record levels of investment. While job vacancies in the industry dropped sharply at the height of the crisis in July, they have since climbed 50 per cent and are now accumulating at a rate of [...]
Wall Street hits record high after Trump signs stimulus bill December 28, 2020 Wall Street rose to record highs as markets opened this afternoon after US President Donald Trump signed a long-awaited coronavirus stimulus bill. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 per cent in early trading, while the Dow Jones and Nasdaq were also up 0.69 per cent and 0.67 per cent respectively. It comes after Trump belatedly signed [...]
