Eurozone consumer confidence hits lows last seen in financial crisis April 22, 2020 European consumer confidence tumbled this month towards the record lows seen during the financial crisis in 2009 as the continent braces itself for a deep recession caused by coronavirus lockdowns. The European Commission (EC) today said its gauge of consumer confidence for the Eurozone fell to minus 22.7 points, down from minus 11.6 in March. [...]
Coronavirus: Banks team up with mobile industry to tackle text scams April 22, 2020 The UK’s banking and mobile industries have partnered with spy chiefs to crack down on text message scams linked to the Covid-19 crisis. The new campaign is aimed at tackling so-called spoofing techniques, where cyber criminals mimic legitimate businesses or organisations to trick unsuspecting victims into handing over sensitive information. Many scammers have attempted to [...]
UK coronavirus death toll passes 18,000 April 22, 2020 The UK coronavirus death toll has risen above 18,000 after a further 759 people died in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. The number of deaths had reached 18,100 at 5pm yesterday, according to the daily government figures. The death toll increase is less than the 823 announced yesterday, and comes after health secretary Matt [...]
US stocks open higher on earnings and coronavirus stimulus April 22, 2020 US stocks have opened sharply higher as investors put oil market chaos behind them to focus on corporate earnings and a new coronavirus stimulus package from Congress. Wall Street’s Dow Jones stock index was up 1.6 per cent just after the bell. The S&P 500 was 1.6 per cent higher and the Nasdaq had climbed [...]
Coronavirus: Thwarted holidaymakers seeking £7bn in refunds April 22, 2020 Consumer rights group Which? has said that it has received thousands of complaints from customers trying to secure refunds from the UK’s biggest travel companies and airlines. New research from the group shows that many of the UK’s leading travel firms are breaching their legal obligations to pay refunds within the required timescale, instead offering [...]
Private equity activity reaches new peak but firms brace for difficult year April 22, 2020 European private equity activity hit a new peak in the first quarter, but firms are bracing for a significant slowdown as the impact of coronavirus hits. The first quarter saw 1,025 deals close for a total €132.9bn, a new quarterly peak, according to PitchBook data. It is in part because transactions that closed in the [...]
Consumers ‘uncomfortable’ returning to pubs and restaurants after coronavirus lockdown April 22, 2020 The hospitality industry could continue to struggle when venues are allowed to reopen after the UK coronavirus lockdown, as the latest research showed customers are nervous about returning to pubs, bars and restaurants. All hospitality and leisures businesses were ordered to close when the government announced the UK coronavirus lockdown on 23 March, and pubs, [...]
Law and accountancy firm coronavirus partner promotions: a poisoned chalice? April 22, 2020 Law and accountancy firms have promoted swathes of new partners in recent days with many firms hailing the strong rounds as a signal of confidence in the future. But with new partners typically required to stump up £50,000 to £100,000 to join partnerships, it is a potentially risky step up for the individual during the [...]
UK coronavirus outbreak has reached peak, says health secretary Matt Hancock April 22, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed today that that the UK coronavirus outbreak has reached its peak. Speaking in the House of Commons today, Hancock confirmed that the pandemic had hit its peak in the UK and that new cases were starting to drop. “As we reach – have reached the peak – and as we [...]
Arqiva’s £2bn telecoms takeover cleared by competition watchdog April 22, 2020 A £2bn takeover of Arqiva’s telecoms infrastructure division by Spanish rival Cellnex has been cleared by the competition watchdog. The merger, which agreed in October, will make Cellnex the largest independent operator of mobile masts in the UK, adding roughly 7,400 sites to its portfolio. The deal will also give the Spanish firm rights to [...]
