The City View: ‘Charlemagne’ on the EU July 21, 2020 Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Today Andy Silvester talks to Duncan Robinson, Charlemagne columnist for The Economist. Based in Brussels, Duncan gives us an insight into the changing relationships within the EU now that the UK has left, the role of member states in a post-pandemic world, and the future of continental euroscepticism. Andy [...]
Fire breaks out at Bournemouth beach July 20, 2020 Firefighters are battling a large fire that has broken out on a beach in Bournemouth this afternoon. The fire has affected three beach huts and around 100 sq metres of heath next to the busy beach, authorities said. Photos and videos posted to social media showed beach-goers watching on as firefighters battle the blaze. Local [...]
Walmart revives talks on sale of Asda stake July 20, 2020 Walmart has revived talks to sell a stake in Asda after pausing plans to focus on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The US giant, which is the largest retailer in the world, said it had restarted discussions with potential buyers after it was forced to temporarily abandon the move. “Walmart and Asda have restarted [...]
Blackburn risks local lockdown as infection rate surpasses Leicester July 20, 2020 A local lockdown in Blackburn is the “last resort”, the area’s public health official has said, as the Lancashire district surpassed Leicester as England’s coronavirus hotspot. Blackburn and nearby market town Darwen together recorded the highest infection rate in the country in the week to 17 July, according to Public Health England figures. There were [...]
Retail footfall growth slows after Super Saturday rush July 20, 2020 Retail footfall growth slowed last week following the initial rush to high streets when pubs and restaurants reopened. Footfall across all UK retail destinations rose by 4.5 per cent last week from the week before, less than half the rise of the 10.6 per cent jump recorded the previous week. The number of high street [...]
Marks & Spencer cuts 950 jobs as pandemic accelerates transformation plan July 20, 2020 Marks & Spencer (M&S) announced this morning that it will cut 950 jobs as it accelerates its transformation plan during the coronavirus pandemic. The retailer announced today that it will create a new retail management structure, which will affect 950 roles across central support functions and property and store management, in the latest blow for [...]
UK housing market enjoys ‘mini-boom’ as asking prices soar in July, says Rightmove July 20, 2020 Residential property asking prices soared in July as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were lifted, sparking a “mini-boom” in the UK housing market. The average asking price of property coming to market in July was up 2.4 per cent compared to March, before the coronavirus lockdown was announced. The 3.7 per cent annual rate of increase recorded [...]
Fast fashion firms Asos and Missguided call for action on UK worker exploitation July 20, 2020 Fast fashion retailers Asos and Missguided have called for urgent government action over the exploitation at UK clothing factories, after rival e-commerce firm Boohoo was embroiled in a scandal over the treatment of workers in Leicester. In a letter to home secretary Priti Patel, a group of retailers, MPs and investors, including Allianz Global Investors, [...]
Finance chiefs expect slow business recovery from coronavirus pandemic July 20, 2020 Finance bosses do not expect business to bounce back quickly after the coronavirus pandemic, with many forecasting that demand will not recover until the second half of next year. Research by Deloitte found that 49 per cent of chief financial officers do not believe that demand for their business will return to pre-pandemic levels until [...]
Dividend recovery ‘could take six years’ after record-breaking fall July 20, 2020 Shareholder payouts could take up to six years to recover to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, the latest research has shown, after companies were forced to slash dividends during the crisis. Dividends were down £22bn to £16.1bn in the second quarter of the year, a record fall of 57.2 per cent year on year. Underlying dividends, excluding [...]
