Exclusive: UK esports funding hits record high amid lockdown gaming boom July 28, 2021 British esports startups enjoyed record levels of investment last year as surging interest in the sector during Covid lockdowns helped fuel a major cash injection. Esports firms raised £42m in 2020, which was a record year for both value and number of deals. The momentum has continued into 2021, with eight deals worth £15m already [...]
It is our duty to help Hongkongers settle and prosper in London July 28, 2021 For centuries, Londoners have embraced the benefits of immigration and welcomed new arrivals to their city with open arms. Around a third of Londoners were born outside the UK and over 200 languages are spoken on our streets. We are proud of this diverse, thriving city, and look forward to it remaining a multicultural hub [...]
Self-employed: women lost almost double the income than men during the pandemic, survey shows July 28, 2021 Self-employed women lost around 20 per cent of their income during the course of the pandemic, compared to 11 per cent for self-employed men. This is according to a new survey by the insurance provider for small and medium-sized enterprises Superscript, shared with City A.M. The poll surveyed 2,015 male and female sole-traders, freelancers and [...]
To face mask or not to face mask? Covid etiquette is an experiment in human behaviour July 28, 2021 To mask or not to mask? Along with scores of other things we never would have anticipated, whether or not to cover up our nose and mouth is the latest thorny issue in Covid etiquette. The answer from Boris Johnson is clear: in public spaces such as transport, bars, restaurants or other busy indoor places, [...]
Shop prices drop as retailers compete for consumers’ pounds July 28, 2021 Prices for products in shops dipped over the last year driven by strong competition between retailers to attract consumers, according to new figures released today. The British Retail Consortium and NielsenIQ’s latest shop price index shows prices in shops fell 1.2 per cent annually in July. Read more: UK inflation hits 2.5 per cent in [...]
MPs join call to end electric vehicle charging ‘postcode lottery’ July 28, 2021 MPs have added their voice to calls for the government to lay out a clear plan for how it will deliver sufficient charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across the UK by 2030. A new report from the transport select committee said that it was vital for ministers to work with the National Grid to identify [...]
Apple posts record quarterly revenue on China sales and iPhone demand July 27, 2021 Apple has beat analysts’ expectations and posted record quarterly revenue on surging demand for premium versions of its iPhones, subscription services, and strong China sales growth. Revenues grew by more than a third to $81.4bn this quarter, up 36 per cent from last year and driven by better-than-expected iPhone sales. This beat analyst expectations of [...]
Google owner Alphabet smashes earnings estimates on digital advertising boom July 27, 2021 Google parent company Alphabet sprinted past revenue expectations for the second quarter, as the pandemic-induced surge in online shopping powered companies’ digital advertising spend. The tech giant posted revenue of $61.88bn in the three months to 30 June, up 62 per cent from the same period last year, and miles in front of Wall Street estimates [...]
Microsoft beats Wall Street expectations on soaring demand for cloud computing July 27, 2021 Microsoft beat earnings expectations and posted a rise in revenue for the fourth quarter, as the ongoing shift to remote working bolstered demand for its cloud computing services. Microsoft reported a 21 per cent rise in revenue to $46.2bn in the three months ending 30 June – beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $44.24bn, according to [...]
Morrisons’ biggest shareholder refuses to back £6.3bn Fortress-led takeover bid July 27, 2021 Morrisons’ largest shareholder has announced “it is not inclined to support” a £6.3bn takeover bid by a consortium led by SoftBank-owned Fortress. Silchester International Investors, which owns 15.1 per cent of Morrisons, said in a statement on Tuesday evening that “there is little in the recommended offer that could not be achieved by Morrison as [...]
