AO World swings to profit as working from home boosts revenue more than 50 per cent November 24, 2020 Online electricals retailer AO World swung to profit in the six months to September, as a surge in domestic appliance sales during the pandemic helped revenue rocket more than 50 per cent. The company, which sells washing machines, fridges, TVs and laptops, said sales in the six months to 30 September jumped 53.2 per cent [...]
Pets at Home remain dogged throughout pandemic as sales soar during lockdown November 24, 2020 Pets at Home has cemented itself as a rare winner during the pandemic, as the group notched double digit revenue growth in the six months to October following an “exceptional period of demand” during lockdown. The FTSE 250-listed firm thanked its allocation as an “essential” retailer during the coronavirus crisis for its 13 per cent [...]
Don’t bid farewell to all the Brexit fish just yet November 24, 2020 So long, and thanks for all the fish. Not only book four in the Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy trilogy (“in five parts”) by Douglas Adams, but also, apparently, a negotiating strategy. The UK-EU trade talks are said to be trapped on a handful of unresolved issues, and one of them swims. We could be [...]
Sterling hits 10-week high on vaccine and Brexit deal optimism November 23, 2020 Sterling rallied to a two and a half month high today, as more positive news about a potential Covid-19 vaccine propelled investors to buy riskier currencies and offset concerns about whether Britain and the EU can clinch a Brexit trade deal. Tonight the pound is up 0.3 per cent to $1.332, while against the euro [...]
Bank of England investigating leak of QE extension decision November 23, 2020 The Bank of England believes there was a leak of its decision to increase its bond-buying program by £150bn ($200bn) earlier this month. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told Westminster’s Treasury Select Committee that the central bank was now investigating how the decision was leaked to The Sun. “What we have to assume is [...]
BoE governor Andrew Bailey: No-deal Brexit worse for UK economy than Covid November 23, 2020 A no-deal Brexit would leave worse long-term economic scarring than the coronavirus, according to Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey.
Labour’s Anneliese Dodds says Brexit deal looks ‘thin as gruel’ November 23, 2020 Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds has said any Brexit trade deal looks like it will be "thin as gruel" as negotiations start again online today.
Vaccine hopes boost Wall Street open November 23, 2020 Wall Street’s main indexes rose today as hopes that the first Covid-19 vaccine could be available within weeks renewed bets of a swift economic recovery next year. The Dow Jones index was up 0.57 per cent, a rise mirrored by the S&P 500, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index gained 0.87 per cent. The US [...]
What the Future holds November 23, 2020 Expiration this Friday Given the close proximity to an all time high, the temptation to look for higher levels is all too appealing. However, given the looming derivatives expiries at the end of this week on Friday may mean that some of the capital may look for opportunities elsewhere. At the time of writing the [...]
UK business activity shrinks as fresh lockdown hits services sector November 23, 2020 UK business activity contracted this month as the rollout of fresh lockdown measures took its toll on the services sector. The IHS Markit/CIPS UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped to 47.4 in November, according to initial readings, down from 52.1 in October. The figures represent a five-month low and the first time since June [...]