Ikea introduces social distancing wardens as it prepares for reopening May 31, 2020 Ikea is introducing social distancing wardens as part of a string of safety measures being implemented ahead of reopening on Monday. The retailer will reopen 19 stores across England and Northern Ireland from tomorrow, with click and collect facilities also opening in a phased approach. Ikea stores in Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland [...]
Cruise firm Carnival set for the drop in FTSE 100 reshuffle May 29, 2020 Cruise operator Carnival is set to drop out of the FTSE 100 stock index next week when Britain’s league of the biggest companies is reshuffled, having been battered by the coronavirus crisis. Analysts tip airline Easyjet to also drop out in the FTSE reshuffle. British Gas-owner Centrica is also likely to be replaced as one [...]
Camden Market to operate one-way system as it prepares for June reopening May 29, 2020 The owner of Camden Market today outlined plans for a phased reopening of the north London shopping hotspot from 1 June. Landlord Labtech said the venue will reopen on Monday in line with the government’s plans to ease the coronavirus lockdowns for open-air markets and car dealerships. The canal-hugging tourist trap will implement a one-way [...]
London business confidence rises but gloom remains as lockdown eased May 29, 2020 London business confidence picked up slightly in May as the government lifted coronavirus restrictions, but firms grew gloomier across the country as a whole. The business barometer from Lloyds showed that London business confidence rose eight points on its gauge to minus 20. This was nonetheless close to a record low after sentiment plunged in [...]
High tech the solution for the returning High Street May 29, 2020 With Number 10 announcing that retailers can begin to re-open from June 15th, all eyes turn to the fortunes of the businesses which make up Britain’s high streets and bring colour to our communities. After three months of closure for most of these retailers, the news will provoke a mixture of reactions. Most are desperate [...]
Coronavirus: People in England can meet in groups of six outside from Monday May 28, 2020 People in England will be able to meet up to five friends or family members from outside their household from Monday. Boris Johnson announced today that meetings can happen either in public spaces or in backyards and other private outdoor spaces, but a two-metre distance must always be kept. “These changes mean that friends and [...]
Harrods to open Westfield outlet shop to ease pressure on Knightsbridge store May 28, 2020 Harrods is preparing to open a new London outlet to host its summer sale and create more space at its Knightsbridge flagship store. The Harrods Outlet at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush will open in July and offer discounted stock from the existing season that the retailer was unable to sell when stores closed during the UK [...]
UK hiring plummets as Covid-19 crisis hits low-income workers May 28, 2020 UK job vacancies crashed almost 60 per cent this month as the coronavirus pandemic sparked the country’s fastest rise in unemployment since 1947, new data has revealed. Live job vacancies have dropped from 820,000 at the beginning of April to just 373,000 in May as fears of a protracted economic downturn grow. The figures, released [...]
The City View: ‘End the lockdown now and cut taxes to avoid a depression’ – Dan Hannan May 28, 2020 In this episode Christian is joined by Dan Hannan, former Tory MEP now president of the Initiative for Free Trade. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Dan is a lockdown-sceptic and he makes a powerful case for reopening the economy and avoiding a crippling collapse in economic activity. In addition, he believes the government must [...]
FTSE 100 rallies as reopening optimism takes hold May 27, 2020 The FTSE 100 extended gains made yesterday as investors focused on the phased reopening of the economy. London’s blue-chip index closed up 1.26 per cent at 6,144 points as investors took comfort in increased hopes of a recovery. The Prime Minister set out plans to reopen parts of the economy from next week, as the [...]