London Sports Festival moves from 3×3 basketball success to pickleball at the City of London Corporation’s Guildhall Yard
Pound slips after touching highest level since start of year August 19, 2020 The pound slipped back after touching its highest level against the dollar since the start of January, as traders weighed up Brexit negotiations and rising inflation. Sterling hit $1.327 today, erasing its losses for 2020 as it reached its highest level since 1 January. It was helped by the continuing slide in the dollar, which [...]
Monzo marketing chief steps down amid doubts over bank’s future August 19, 2020 Monzo’s long-standing head of marketing is stepping down as the challenger bank faces doubts over its future due to the coronavirus crisis. Tristan Thomas, who joined Monzo in its infancy in 2015, told staff he will leave the company at the end of the year. The move comes as the digital bank faces a fight [...]
Brexit free trade talks stalled over UK truckers’ access to EU August 19, 2020 The EU has reportedly denied the UK’s request for British truckers to maintain full access to mainland Europe as post-Brexit trade talks resume today. The UK wants its truckers to be able to make pick ups and drop offs inside and between EU member states after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December, according [...]
Pizza Express closures: A list of all 73 affected restaurants August 19, 2020 Pizza Express is closing 73 restaurants with 1,100 jobs at risk after its business was hit by the coronavirus lockdown. The casual dining chain, which struggled with a debt pile of over £1bn thanks to a series of private equity buyouts, made the cuts as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) with creditors. The [...]
YouGov: Halfords healthy after lockdown shift to two wheels August 19, 2020 The coronavirus lockdown closed down public transport for all but essential journeys from mid-March, leading thousands of Brits to buy a new bike, according to the UK’s Bicycle Association. Bike sales increased by 63% year-on-year between April and June 2020. Similarly, the DfT found cycling levels increased by 300% during lockdown. Halfords has been among [...]
HSBC warns UK economy to shrink 10.3 per cent in 2020 August 19, 2020 The UK’s biggest bank HSBC has sharply downgraded its forecast for the UK economy, predicting it to shrink by 10.3 per cent this year and only grow six per cent in 2021. The latest figures are markedly more pessimistic than its previous prediction of a 7.8 per cent contraction in 2020 followed by growth of [...]
Cut National Insurance tax after furlough scheme ends, says BCC boss August 19, 2020 The government should cut National Insurance tax once the furlough scheme unwinds in the autumn, a top industry figure has said. Speaking on City A.M.’s The City View podcast, Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the Treasury should consider a form of ongoing support for UK firms. “We understand the Treasury’s [...]
Trump backs Oracle bid for Tiktok’s US business August 19, 2020 US President Trump has thrown his weight behind Oracle’s mooted bid for Tiktok, saying the software giant would be a “great company” to take over the hit video app. It follows reports that Oracle has held discussions with Chinese parent company Bytedance over an offer for Tiktok’s operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New [...]
UK firms cut more than 106,000 jobs amid coronavirus pandemic August 19, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has battered the UK economy since it arrived in early 2020 – and no sector has remained unscathed, with more than 100,000 job cuts planned during the pandemic. The government’s furlough scheme has allowed millions of people to keep getting a paycheck, but fears are growing that when this is phased out [...]
Amazon expands Morrisons range as it beefs up grocery deliveries August 19, 2020 Amazon today said it will offer the full range of Morrisons products for delivery as the ecommerce giant ramped up its presence in the UK grocery market. The strengthened deal means Morrisons customers will be able to do their full shop through the main Amazon website. Amazon Prime customers will be offered free same-day delivery [...]
