UBS sticks with planned dividend despite global calls for payout freeze March 30, 2020 UBS intends to pay its 2019 dividend as planned, the Swiss banking giant said today, despite guidance from Swiss authorities and international banking groups to limit payouts due to the catastrophic economic impact of coronavirus. The bank’s proposed dividend of $0.73 (59p) in cash per share is an increase of almost six per cent on [...]
Johnson & Johnson shares rise after it strikes $1bn coronavirus vaccine deal with US government March 30, 2020 Shares in pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson rose today after it said it had agreed a $1bn (£810m) deal to supply the US government with coronavirus vaccine. Johnson & Johnson said it would start human testing of its experimental coronavirus vaccine by September, with the goal of having it ready for emergency use in early [...]
Easyjet founder blasts board over call for state aid, tells firm to raise cash March 30, 2020 Easyjet’s founder and largest shareholder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has blasted the airline’s calls for state aid, saying companies as big as Easyjet “do not deserve charitable gifts”. Instead, the carrier should look to raise cash through an equity raise, he said, saying government loans “would only postpone the problem, [they] do not cure it”. In [...]
Coronavirus: Carnival shares plummet as firm extends cruise suspensions March 30, 2020 Carnival’s luxury cruise operator Cunard today said that it would extend the suspension of all its voyages by a month to 15 May due to the coronavirus pandemic. Carnival, also the operator of two coronavirus-stricken Princess cruises, has already temporarily suspended several of its ships due to concerns over the rapidly spreading Covid-19 crisis earlier [...]
Coronavirus: 159 more deaths in England March 30, 2020 The National Health Service said today that a further 159 patients had died in England after testing positive for coronavirus taking the total to 1,284. A further six people have died in Scotland, taking the total to 47, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced. In Wales, 62 people have died after contracting coronavirus, an increase [...]
Hedge funds circle Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment March 30, 2020 Hedge funds and institutions are circling Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment, whose market value has fallen by a quarter in the past month due to its sports betting exposure. The suspension of sports fixtures across the globe has sent shockwaves through the gambling sector in recent weeks, with Flutter Entertainment plummeting as much as 35 [...]
Coronavirus: Mercedes-designed ventilator gets approval for NHS use March 30, 2020 Mercedes’ F1 team has designed a ventilator along with engineers and clinicians at University College London (UCL) that has been approved for use by the NHS. Around 100 of the breathing aids, which were designed and produced within 100 hours of engineers’ first meetings, will now be distributed to UCL’s hospital for clinical trials. The [...]
UK Music appoints former Labour MP Tom Watson as chair March 30, 2020 UK Music today said it has appointed former Labour party deputy leader Tom Watson as its new chairman. Watson, who also served as shadow culture secretary during his two-decade stint in parliament, said his priority would be to secure support for the music industry during the coronavirus crisis and help steer the sector back to [...]
Thousands of jobs at risk as Carluccio’s and Brighthouse collapse under coronavirus pressure March 30, 2020 Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s and rent-to-own retailer Brighthouse both appointed administrators this morning, putting thousands of jobs at risk. Carluccio’s has appointed FRP Advisory as administrator after forced restaurant closures following the outbreak of coronavirus, and ongoing pressures in the hospitality sector, led to it running out of cash. FRP said it will use the [...]
Michael Gove overstates number of UK coronavirus tests as government misses target March 30, 2020 Senior government minister Michael Gove has been caught out misstating the number of UK coronavirus tests carried out last week. The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said yesterday the UK had reached 10,000 coronavirus tests a day. That would be in line with the government’s weekly target. However, it has been revealed today that [...]
