Asian shares extend winning streak for ninth consecutive session June 9, 2020 Asian stocks extended their winning streak for the ninth concession session this morning as the lifting of lockdown measures across the world fuelled investor hopes of a swift global recovery from coronavirus. MSCI’s index of Asia-Pacific shares outside of Japan notched its ninth straight session of gains this morning, marking its longest winning streak since [...]
Tory MPs blast Huawei over British media blitz June 8, 2020 Tory MPs have blasted Huawei’s UK media blitz as a “ridiculous” attempt to gain British sympathy, amid increasing pressure for Boris Johnson to cut ties with the Chinese technology firm. In an open letter to the British public Huawei today emphasised its commitment to the UK over the past two decades and its credibility as [...]
Plus 500 shares fall as lucky customers dent coronavirus revenue June 8, 2020 Online trading platform Plus 500 has reported record levels of customer activity in the second quarter and welcomed more than 100,000 new traders amid market volatility caused by the coronavirus crisis. The spreadbetting platform, which allows customers to bet on whether a share price will rise or fall, today announced record revenue from customer income [...]
BT auditor highlights new accounting weaknesses June 8, 2020 The external auditor of BT has highlighted “material weaknesses” within the company’s financial reporting controls, in the latest upset to its accounting credibility. In a letter to the telecoms firm KPMG noted that BT “did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of 31 March, 2020 because of… material weaknesses related to general [...]
Ocean Outdoor revenue drops as coronavirus hits advertising industry June 8, 2020 Digital advertising group Ocean Outdoor today reported a dip in revenue for the first quarter of 2020 as demand for advertising continues to nosedive amid the coronavirus crisis. The figures The billboard giant announced that group revenue sank four per cent to £27.4m in the first quarter of 2020 on a pro-forma basis, down from [...]
Astrazeneca approaches Gilead about potential merger June 8, 2020 British pharmaceuticals giant Astrazeneca has approached US rival Gilead Sciences over a potential merger in what would form the biggest healthcare deal on record, Bloomberg reported yesterday. The Cambridge-based firm contacted Gilead last month in a bid to gauge interest in a possible deal, but did not provide details of any transaction, according to Bloomberg. [...]
Titian at the National Gallery review — Full-bodied masterpieces March 15, 2020 There are just seven paintings in National Gallery’s new exhibition Titian: Love, Desire and Death, but they pack a punch. This is the first time these great works have been exhibited in the same room in their 450-year history. Poesie, Titian calls them — “poetic pictures” inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Commissioned by a 21-year-old Prince [...]
Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison March 11, 2020 Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison in New York on charges of rape and sexual assault. Weinstein was found guilty in a trial last month of two felony sex crimes, including raping actress Jessica Mann and forcing oral sex on former production assistant Miriam Haley, sealing his dramatic [...]
Tory heavyweights propose amendment to oust Huawei March 6, 2020 A group of Conservative MPs will next week seek to pass a law banning Huawei from the UK’s telecoms infrastructure after 2022. Tory heavyweights including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson, David Davis and Damian Green have proposed an amendment to the government’s telecoms infrastructure bill that would bar companies deemed to be “high risk [...]
Warren drops out of presidential race March 5, 2020 Elizabeth Warren has pulled out of the presidential race after a lacklustre showing on Super Tuesday, the Massachusetts senator announced today. Warren was considered a favourite of the liberal left and a frontrunner among Democratic candidates. However, a strong showing from rivals Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday — a day of cross-state [...]