Before the Bell: Europe to open higher as US fiscal talks get underway January 25, 2021 While US markets continued to set new records last week, European markets traded in a more lacklustre fashion as the early year optimism of the first week of 2021, gave way to a lot more caution, as a rise in short-term economic pessimism and the prospect of tighter lockdown restrictions for longer raise the prospect [...]
How to host a lockdown Burns Supper, from haggis to whisky January 23, 2021 Monday marks what may be the most pared back Burns Night in living memory. While on a normal year swathes of the country head to special dinners to celebrate the life of the Scottish bard, this year we’ll all be stuck in the house watching reruns of Jools Holland. Still, there are a few ways [...]
WandaVision Episode 3 review: a not-so-groovy 70s episode January 22, 2021 SPOILER WARNING: this review contains spoilers for all current episodes of WandaVision. Disney+’s WandaVision opened up with a double bill of episodes last week, presumably to introduce what is quite a trippy concept if you’re not Marvel literate. Avenger Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and her android lover Vision (Paul Bettany) are living in literal sitcom bliss [...]
Priti Patel introduces new £800 fine for large gatherings January 21, 2021 People attending gatherings in groups of 15 or more during lockdown will each be slapped with a new £800 fine, the home secretary has announced. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Priti Patel said: “My message is clear, if you don’t follow the rules, the police will enforce them. Police officers are now moving [...]
City analysts discuss what a Biden administration may hold for financial markets January 20, 2021 In the final hours of Donald Trump’s presidency, investors are turning the spotlight on Joe Biden. As Biden is about to enter the White House, several City-based analysts discuss what the new administration may have in store for different markets and parts of the economy. US Dollar US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen reaffirmed her [...]
Janet Yellen urges US senators to ‘act big’ on coronavirus relief package January 19, 2021 Janet Yellen, US President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for treasury secretary, today urged senators to “act big” on the next coronavirus relief package. Yellen said the benefits of a bold stimulus package will outweigh the costs of a higher debt burden. She told the Senate Finance Committee that her main focus on appointment will be to [...]
FTSE 100 opens higher as markets await Yellen grilling January 19, 2021 The FTSE 100 slipped back after a strong start this morning as markets await testimony this afternoon from incoming US treasury secretary Janet Yellen. After a quiet day yesterday which saw the index shed 0.2 per cent, London’s leading market rose 0.6 per cent at the opening bell to 6,762 points. But after a couple [...]
Before the Bell: Europe called higher as Biden is due to announce $2trn stimulus January 14, 2021 Volatility in the markets was low across the board yesterday. There was no change to the macroeconomic outlook. “Hence why trading ranges were relatively small. Equity markets in Europe and the US had muted sessions,” David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, tells City A.M. this morning. “The health crisis is still bubbling away [...]
The Best of Travel: How L’Enclume transformed a Cumbrian town January 13, 2021 Throughout January we’re remembering better times and sunnier climes by reposting some of our favourite travel stories from the last decade. In this instalment, our Life&Style editor Steve Dinneen makes a culinary pilgrimage to Cartmel to dine at L’Enclume. ••• The village of Cartmel lies just beyond the boundaries of the Lake District. It’s quietly [...]
Morrisons to be first UK supermarket to pay staff at least £10 an hour January 13, 2021 Morrisons will pay its supermarket staff at least £10 an hour, becoming the first major UK supermarket to reach that milestone. The new deal will start in April and represents a significant pay increase for nearly 96,000 colleagues, the majority of which will see a nine per cent rise. Staff had pushed for an increase [...]