Opinion: We need to stop calling it ‘NHS’ Test and Trace February 21, 2021 Who runs NHS Test and Trace? “Surely the NHS?”, you might say. Not according to NHS England’s boss, Sir Simon Stevens. When quizzed by the Health and Science Committee last month, Stevens said: “I can’t comment specifically on Test and Trace because that is run by the Department of Health and Social Care rather than [...]
Publisher Future lifts profit forecasts as it completes Go Compare deal February 19, 2021 Magazine publisher Future today said it expects full-year profit to come in ahead of previous forecasts as it completed its £600m takeover of price comparison site Go Compare. The media group, which owns titles such as Country Life, Four Four Two and Tech Radar, reported strong trading in the four months to the end January [...]
January retail sales drop 8.2 per cent as third lockdown takes high street ‘to the edge of the abyss’ February 19, 2021 Retail sales volumes dropped by 8.2 per cent last month, compared to December, as the third national lockdown affected sales across the sector. All sectors experienced a decline in sales last month, except non-store retailers and food stores, reporting growth of 3.7 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively, compared to the final month of [...]
Asda web sales soared 76 per cent ahead of billionaire Issa brothers takeover February 18, 2021 Asda web sales soared 76 per cent in ahead of billionaire Issa brothers takeover
Recruitment firm Hays to pay out £150m in special dividends February 18, 2021 Hays plc said on Thursday it had identified £150m of surplus capital that it plans to return to shareholders as special dividends. The move was encouraged by hiring activity rebounding to pre-Christmas levels by early February. Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays, said: “With recovery in fees and our profits accelerating in Q2, this provides us [...]
Before the Bell: Reflation concerns prompts yields spike while UK CPI is up next February 17, 2021 Over the past few weeks, it’s been notable that bond markets, both in the UK and in the US are starting to price the risk of higher inflation pressures, as long-term yields move to the upside. Yesterday, US 10-year treasury yields jumped sharply higher to 1.3 per cent, in a move that suggested that markets [...]
New Nigerian Covid mutation that may be vaccine-resistant infects 38 people in UK February 17, 2021 Public Health England revealed yesterday that it has discovered 38 British cases of a new Covid strain first found in Nigeria. Experts warn the mutation may be resistant to vaccines. The health body has marked the mutation, which has been labelled as B1.5.25, as ‘a variant under investigation’, while Simon Clarke, a professor of cellular [...]
The Great Frost of Covid-19 will pass – and Britain’s economy will heat up February 17, 2021 The Great Frost of 1709 has been in the news this week, quite possibly for the first time since 1709 itself. According to Bank of England estimates, this was the last time that GDP fell by more in a single year than it did in the Covid year we have just had. The Office for [...]
Eurozone GDP fell as lockdown restrictions tightened ahead of Christmas February 16, 2021 Eurozone GDP fell as lockdown restrictions tightened ahead of CHristmas
The Government risks undermining the vaccine strategy with endless speculation and a charge towards Covid-Zero February 16, 2021 Boris Johnson is an optimist – a feature that has not always served him well throughout this pandemic. The litany of slipping timelines in 2020, from school openings to the First World War ‘over by Christmas’ tribute act, hasn’t given the public great confidence in Government announcements. But, with a vaccine being rolled out at [...]