Silver linings: Positive investment trends for stock market optimists March 24, 2020 Stocks investors are likely to be feeling battered and bruised at the moment. The coronavirus-induced bear market has seen share prices fall sharply — even the UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 index is down more than 30 per cent since the start of the year. Many industries are facing hurdles due to the government’s self-isolation guidelines, [...]
Stockpiling: Shoppers buying ‘a few extra items’ driving shelf shortages March 23, 2020 Empty supermarket shelves have been caused by customers adding an extra few items to their baskets and making more trips rather than stockpiling, according to the latest data. The average spend per supermarket trip jumped 16 per cent in the week ending 17 March to £22.13 compared to the same week a month ago. Meanwhile, [...]
Asda donates money to help food banks during coronavirus crisis as supermarkets offer new jobs March 23, 2020 Supermarket chain Asda will donate £5m to partner charities. The donation to the Trussell Trust and FareShare is part of an effort to help four million vulnerable families. “This funding will help us recruit and train new food bank volunteers across the UK, and support the coordination of packing and delivering pre-made food parcels to [...]
Morrisons cuts fuel prices as oil prices dip lower March 23, 2020 Supermarket Morrisons has announced a reduction in forecourt fuel prices. Effective from today, unleaded and diesel will be reduced by 12 and 8p a litre respectively. Morrisons said this will save the average customer £6 on unleaded and £4 on diesel. Although prices vary locally, Morrisons currently charges 116p a litre for unleaded and 118.5p [...]
‘We should all be ashamed’: NHS England boss calls for end to panic-buying March 21, 2020 The medical director of NHS England has said everyone should “be ashamed” that vital healthcare staff were being deprived of supplies due to panic-buying. Stephen Powis called on the public to think of those working long days to look after our loved ones when shopping. The appeal came at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing today, [...]
Home workout: Easy ways to stay in shape amid Covid-19 March 18, 2020 What a crazy few weeks it’s been. The City is quieter than I’ve ever seen it – it’s like a ghost town out there. Few of us have ever experienced this kind of mass uncertainty, and that makes it more important than ever to look after ourselves. Thankfully, although we might be locked inside, there [...]
Coronavirus: Ocado closes website down as demand soars March 18, 2020 Online supermarket Ocado has closed its website for several days as it grapples with a surge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. The delivery company said it is temporarily shut until 21 March in order to “complete essential work” to make product and delivery slot distribution as “fair and accessible” as possible. In a [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets mull streamlining stores to cope with spike in demand March 16, 2020 The biggest supermarkets in the UK are mulling cutting cafe, counters and other services to focus on maintaining basic provisions as the demand for essential items and hygiene products soars during the coronavirus outbreak. Bosses are stepping up their contingency plans to keep stores running if staff take sick leave or if a potential mass [...]
Walmart edges closer to Asda sale as buyout firms bid March 16, 2020 US retail giant Walmart has edged closer to a sale of Asda after three private equity firms competing to buy the supermarket reportedly made it through to the next stage of bidding. Buyout firms Apollo Global Management, Lone Star Funds and TDR Capital submitted first round offers for the UK grocer and have been invited [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets urge customers to stop stockpiling March 15, 2020 UK supermarkets have called on the UK public to stop stockpiling in response to coronavirus as fears mount that some people could be left without essential products. In an open letter to customers, the country’s biggest food retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco Asda and Morrisons, called on consumers to “be considerate in the way they shop” [...]