Asda sales dip as supermarket charters cargo ship to ensure Christmas stock availability November 29, 2021 Asda has reported a fall in underlying quarterly sales as it said it chartered its own cargo ship to ensure Christmas decorations and toys make it to UK shelves. The supermarket, owned by the billionaire Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR Capital, said like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, fell 0.7 per cent year-on-year in the [...]
Oil prices rebound from massive drop despite discovery of Covid-19 variant November 29, 2021 Oil prices showed some signs of recovery on Monday after massive drops last week of over ten per cent on both major benchmarks.
Ex British Airways boss slams tougher Omicron travel rules as ‘knee-jerk decision’ as UK firms worry about Christmas November 29, 2021 Former British Airways boss Willie Walsh has dubbed countries’ tighter quarantine and testing rules as a “knee-jerk decision”, after concerns over the new Omicron Covid variant. Walsh, who used to head the airline group International Airlines Group, said the new rules imposed “a massive financial damage to the tourism and airline industry.” “It’s clear that [...]
Over 17 million have used buy now, pay later services November 29, 2021 The number of people who have used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services for their online shopping has now surpassed 17 million, according to reports. Klarna, the biggest BNPL player in the UK, has seen its number of customers double to 15m since last year, according to the BBC, which first reported the news. As [...]
Encanto review – magical Disney family fun for Christmas November 29, 2021 The landscape of family movies has shifted slightly during the pandemic, as studios found more success with at-home streaming rather than the cinematic experience. Still, some things never change – namely, a number of big screen family blockbusters heading our way in the run up to Christmas. Disney’s offering is Encanto, the 60th Walt Disney [...]
Busiest housing market since 2007 anticipated with households to make moving decisions over Christmas November 29, 2021 The UK is readying itself to record the busiest housing market since 2007 as the pandemic has made homeowners reconsider their living situations. Keen interest from buyers has sent house prices soaring, with the average value of a home now £240k, according to Zoopla’s House Price Index. The pandemic has compelled many to reconsider where [...]
Markets digest Omicron: After worst equity day of the year on Friday, we are in for a bumpy ride this week November 29, 2021 The wider question with respect to Friday’s market collapse and the worst day for equity markets this year, as well as the 13 fall in oil prices, is not so much as to whether it was justified or not, but whether it marks a sea change in market sentiment when it comes to the economic [...]
Maurizio Zanella: The man behind the rise of Franciacorta November 28, 2021 Franciacorta is a small but mighty Italian wine appellation currently making waves on the sparkling scene. Though wine has been produced here since the sixteenth century, Prosecco is the Italian sparkling wine that jumps more readily to the international mind. Franciacorta, however, is made via the traditional method and was the first region to gain [...]
Javid: England ‘nowhere near’ implementing more Covid restrictions November 28, 2021 The government is “nowhere near” bringing in fresh Covid restrictions like mandatory vaccine passports and working from home orders, according to Sajid Javid. The health secretary said the emergence of the new Omicron variant does not mean Plan B restrictions are imminent and that “people should continue with their plans as normal at Christmas”. It [...]
Omicron: PCR tests for arrivals to UK, mask rules tightened, and self-isolation reintroduced after variant found in UK November 27, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a list of new Covid precautionary measures, including restrictions for those arriving in the UK, stricter rules on wearing masks in public places, and a “boost for the booster programme” for vaccination. In a reunion that Brits won’t have been hoping for, Johnson held a Downing Street press conference [...]