China: Quiet trading floors and hampered supply chains as Covid-19 spreads December 19, 2022 Covid-19 is sweeping though China’s capital city according to reports, after strict measures were suddenly removed earlier this month. The virus has quietened trading floors in Beijing and is also spreading fast in the financial hub of Shanghai, according to a Reuters report. Stock trading volume has fallen in the last week, with most currency [...]
Jeremy Hunt extends alcohol duty freeze until August December 19, 2022 Planned hikes in alcohol duty have been put off until August, afterJeremy Hunt decided to extend the current freeze a further six months. The chancellor was due to increase duty on beer, wine, cider and spirits by the annual increase in RPI on 1 February. This would have meant an average increase of 7p for [...]
Truphone sale jeopardised, founder puts in last-minute bid to buy back company December 19, 2022 A last minute bid from Alexander Straub, has jeopardized the sale of Truphone. Straub is one of the founders of Truphone. The company is a GSMA accredited global mobile network headquartered in London that operates its service internationally. It has an annual revenue of £45.62 m. Shares in the company were put up for a [...]
Economic immigration must be presented as supplementing the UK workforce December 19, 2022 Channel crossings and record levels of working migrants coming to post-pandemic Britain have seenimmigration very much back in the news. It’s an issue we need to talk about, because immigration is only going to become more important for the UK in the future. On the demand side, Britain’s ageing population and skills shortages will mean an ongoing [...]
Covid: Government to sue Baroness Mone-linked firm over £122m PPE contract December 19, 2022 The government is suing a firm linked to Baroness Michelle Mone, after it was handed contracts worth more than £200m to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) during Covid-19. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) today announced it was suing PPE Medpro for £122m plus costs, after the firm allegedly breached a contract “regarding [...]
European regulator injects hope into AstraZeneca’s bid to tackle cancer December 19, 2022 The European Medicines Agency has handed AstraZeneca a number of recommendations and one approval for a trio of cancer drugs the Big Pharma firm is looking to market in the continent. AstraZeneca’s cancer drug Enhertu has been given the green light by the European regulator for use among patients with gastric cancer. Around 136,000 cases [...]
FTSE 100’s winners and losers in 2022 December 19, 2022 The Christmas lull is setting in. Investors are bracing to turn off their screens and get away from the daily City grind. Trading volumes on the FTSE 100 are thinning. It’s also that time of year when financial journalists pick through the UK’s worst (and best) performing stocks over the past 12 months. Without further [...]
Lotus Emira V6 review: Driving the half-price supercar December 19, 2022 The new Emira is the last petrol-powered Lotus sports car. How does it measure up to the Porsche 718 Cayman and Alpine A110?
Ofcom should regulate Netflix, says Rishi Sunak after Harry-Meghan row December 19, 2022 Rishi Sunak has proposed a change in law that would bring online streaming services like Netflix under Ofcom regulations. The Media Bill announced by the Boris Johnson government in May 2022 first suggested giving Ofcom regulation over streaming companies based overseas. Sunak has affirmed that there will be no change in this agenda. Currently, viewers [...]
Despite Brexit: Octopus’ Bulb deal could trigger EU involvement, says lawyers December 19, 2022 Octopus Energy's takeover of Bulb could breach EU state aid rules, according to senior competition lawyers.
