Pound hits 31-month high on Brexit hopes and dollar weakness December 17, 2020 The pound has shot up to its highest level since early 2018, with investors hoping the UK will soon sign a post-Brexit trade deal and the dollar falling sharply. Sterling was last up 0.6 per cent at $1.358, a 31-month high. It was 0.3 per cent higher against the euro at €1.111. The British government [...]
Priti Patel urges public to change Christmas plans December 17, 2020 The home secretary has urged the British public to change their Christmas plans in a bid to limit “people-to-people contact that leads to the spread of this virus”. “I would urge people to change their plans. I won’t be seeing my parents this Christmas. They live in a different part of the country and I [...]
UK awaits Covid tier changes after Christmas confusion December 17, 2020 Towns and cities around the UK are waiting with bated breath this morning to see if they will be moved into a different tier of coronavirus restrictions. Government officials met to review the three tier system yesterday, with health secretary Matt Hancock due to announce any changes later today. The official update comes with London [...]
Combining technology with human ingenuity can level the workplace inclusion gap December 17, 2020 The pandemic has affected every person on the planet. It is one of those rare things that we all have in common, although each of us will have experienced it in a different way. One thing is certain: whatever may have been said at the start, Covid-19 has not been a great leveller. From age [...]
The City View: CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson December 16, 2020 In the last City View podcast before Christmas, Andy Silvester talks to CMC Chief Market Analyst Michael Hewson as they look back on 2020 and dabble with predictions for 2021. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Michael looks at the possibility of a UK-EU trade deal, the prospects for the pound next year, the impact [...]
Public must self-isolate for five days before Christmas travel, says PM December 16, 2020 Boris Johnson has urged the public to self-isolate for five days before visiting friends and family over Christmas, as the Prime Minister refused to U-turn on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions. “A smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas, and a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas,” Johnson told a Downing Street press [...]
The UK’s four nations split on Christmas Covid rules December 16, 2020 The UK’s four nations will split on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions over Christmas, as the Prime Minister faces accusations of confusing the public over the government’s messaging. Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford said the country will toughen up current guidelines allowing three households to mix over Christmas, announcing that Wales will limit gatherings to [...]
Pound hits two-year high as hopes of Brexit trade deal rise December 16, 2020 The pound hit its highest level in two years after market optimism rose that the UK and EU would strike a post-Brexit trade agreement. Sterling climbed 0.5 per cent to $1.352 having earlier touched $1.355, its highest level since the spring of 2018. The pound was up 0.3 per cent against the euro at €1.109. [...]
Ursula von der Leyen: ‘Narrow path to agreement’ in Brexit talks December 16, 2020 Ursula von der Leyen said there is a "path to agreement now" this morning, as hopes of striking a Brexit deal by the end of the week rise.
Aldi launches click and collect service in London ahead of Christmas December 16, 2020 Aldi has launched a click and collect service in London for the first time as its ramps up its online shopping capacity to cater to a surge in demand. The budget supermarket said it will extend its click and collect service to four stores in outer London boroughs, where customers will be able to order [...]