US stocks fall as coronavirus fears return March 27, 2020 US stocks have opened lower following one of Wall Street’s best three-day runs in history as economic concerns about the coronavirus outbreak once again weighed on investors’ minds. The S&P 500 index was down 3.6 per cent in early trading, the Dow Jones was four per cent lower and the Nasdaq had fallen 3.7 per [...]
UK businesses rush to mitigate impact of India lockdown March 27, 2020 UK businesses are scrambling to deal with the fallout from India’s lockdown which risks key functions, such as call centres, going offline. India’s three-week lockdown is having an impact on businesses that have outsourced crucial IT functions over the last two decades. Leadership consultancy New Street Group said many UK firms are scrambling teams to [...]
UK coronavirus: Matt Hancock tests positive March 27, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for coronavirus, Downing Street has said, just an hour after Prime Minister Boris Johnson also revealed a positive diagnosis. The minister, responsible for coordinating the NHS response to the UK coronavirus outbreak, said he has had only mild symptoms. He will self-isolate until next Thursday, when he will [...]
Coronavirus dividend cuts produce £4.4bn hit to investor portfolios March 27, 2020 With more UK firms announcing coronavirus-fuelled dividend cuts this week, the total loss of investor income so far this year is now £4.4bn. The pace of dividend cuts is accelerating as coronavirus wreaks havoc on world economies. In March 116 companies have suspended their dividends totalling £4.2bn, according to investment fund AJ Bell. That compares [...]
Coronavirus: What to do if your house is on the market, and how prices might be affected March 27, 2020 The spread of Coronavirus has taken us all by surprise, with the unprecedented UK-wide lockdown posing a whole host of questions about how life’s milestones should be handled. Today, the government published guidance stating that people should avoid conducting viewings and delay moving house, even if the contracts have been exchanged. But what can you [...]
China’s Xi Jinping offers Donald Trump help with coronavirus March 27, 2020 Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered President Donald Trump China’s support in fighting coronavirus as it spreads rapidly through the US, bringing tensions between the two countries down a notch. Xi’s offer came after the number of coronavirus cases in the US overtook those in China. The US now has more than 84,900 confirmed infections [...]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus March 27, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, he confirmed today, as he urged Brits to stay home to combat the UK outbreak. Johnson revealed his coronavirus diagnosis on Twitter, where he said he has experienced “mild” symptoms since yesterday. “Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for [...]
Travelex shuts all UK foreign exchange bureaus for eight weeks March 27, 2020 Travelex is set to shut all its foreign exchange bureaus in the UK for around eight weeks, it announced in a trading update this morning. It comes after the government introduced strict measures forcing the majority of retail businesses to close in order to contain the spread of coronavirus. Foreign exchange firm Travelex said it [...]
How are the central banks battling coronavirus? March 27, 2020 As countries ramp up efforts to control the pandemic, the economic impact of Covid-19 is having an impact on currency values As the reality of the pandemic begins to bite, it’s clear that normal rules no longer apply. Economies across the world are plummeting and governments are scrambling to protect as much as they can [...]
City Pub Group plans to raise £22m to strengthen balance sheet March 27, 2020 City Pub Group is planning to raise £22m to bolster its balance sheet after the outbreak of coronavirus forced the closure of its pubs. The firm has already raised £15m through the placing of 30m new shares at 50p each, a 10.7 per cent discount to its closing price yesterday, to certain existing shareholders and [...]