AA suspends dividend to brace for possible coronavirus blow March 31, 2020 Repair firm the AA today cancelled its 2019 dividend as it sought to protect itself from the coronavirus outbreak. The company said it has not yet seen any impact from coronavirus, but suspended its final dividend at it outlined multiple future risks. Investors will still receive an interim dividend payment of 0.6p per share. The [...]
World Bank warns on Chinese growth even as factories bounce back March 31, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic will dramatically slow growth in China and Asia and prevent tens of millions from leaving poverty, the World Bank said overnight. The bleak prediction came even as a gauge of output showed signs of life in China’s manufacturing sector in March. China’s economy – the world’s second-largest, is now predicted by the [...]
Coronavirus: Ratings agencies see demand surge as firms try for BoE cash March 31, 2020 Ratings agencies have reported a surge in demand from UK companies as firms try to secure credit ratings that would let them access the Bank of England’s coronavirus bond-buying scheme. However, a significant number of firms expressing interest do not qualify for the money, agencies said. S&P Global Ratings said it has received around 30 [...]
A new leader might give the Labour party a chance March 31, 2020 For anyone holding out for some exciting non-virus news, this week brings a treat: the result of Labour’s leadershipelection. Having suffered a catastrophic drubbing in mid December, the first Saturday in April will see a new leader of the opposition crowned, along with the elected position of deputy leader. Amusingly, the candidates have all been asked to film an [...]
Where do markets go from here? March 31, 2020 One thing’s for sure: as the Prime Minister has already said, the Covid-19 outbreak is going to get worse before it gets better. But with Asia showing that social distancing can work and with recent lockdown measures put in place in the UK, the question becomes: what next? Where’s the floor? For our part, we [...]
City Moves for 31 March – Who’s switching jobs at Quantuma, Medica and FRP? March 31, 2020 Today’s City Moves includes Quantuma, Medica and FRP Quantuma Business advisory firm Quantuma has announced the appointment of Philippa Robinson as a director in its corporate finance team. Philippa joins Quantuma after qualifying with KPMG to become a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. In her role at KPMG, she [...]
Music to the ears: How the music industry has been revived by the digital age March 31, 2020 A lot has changed in the music industry from the position it found itself in 20 years ago. In 1999, with Westlife, Fatboy Slim and Britney Spears at the top of the charts, global music revenues peaked at more than $39bn. A decade later, the emergence of digital technology and file sharing had brought about a dramatic [...]
Covid-19 will hit emerging economies hard March 31, 2020 Coronavirus has stopped both the medical and economic worlds in their tracks. If last week’s preliminary data flashes are anything to go by, the global economy is en route to a recession that will surpass 2008 both in speed and in magnitude. The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) estimated last week that the [...]
Don’t leave the South East behind as Britain levels up March 31, 2020 The Big Smoke dominates — our economy, our culture and our, well, pretty much everything in the UK. In Westminster, just a small corner of the behemoth that is London, life-changing decisions — for better and worse — are being made that will dramatically impact public services, businesses, and families for years to come. That [...]
Competitive sectors face the hardest hit from coronavirus March 31, 2020 The package of economic support offered by the Treasury — from a standing start — is one of the most impressive among any western country. But the cascading consequences of the coronavirus crisis mean that there are all kinds of areas where the pleas for help continue to come. Small businesses, for example, are the [...]
