Nearly 1m people apply for Universal Credit as coronavirus lockdown paralyses economy April 1, 2020 Nearly 1m people in the UK have applied for Universal Credit in the two weeks since Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented strict lockdown measures, the government said today. There are normally around 100,000 applicants per two week period – in the last two weeks there were 950,000. The government has moved 10,000 staff to process [...]
Coronavirus: Deliveroo to provide 500,000 free meals to NHS staff March 29, 2020 Deliveroo has pledged to deliver 500,000 free meals to NHS workers across the country as the UK gears up for the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. The delivery firm said it has begun providing meals to NHS trusts, while customers will be able to donate funds to buy food for doctors and nurses through its [...]
UK coronavirus: Chief medical officer Chris Whitty self-isolates March 27, 2020 Chris Whitty, the UK’s chief medical officer, has self-isolated after experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Whitty, charged with advising Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the UK’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, said today he has tested positive for the virus. Johnson and health minister Matt Hancock earlier confirmed they have caught coronavirus and are self-isolating. Whitty said [...]
Coronavirus dividend cuts produce £4.4bn hit to investor portfolios March 27, 2020 With more UK firms announcing coronavirus-fuelled dividend cuts this week, the total loss of investor income so far this year is now £4.4bn. The pace of dividend cuts is accelerating as coronavirus wreaks havoc on world economies. In March 116 companies have suspended their dividends totalling £4.2bn, according to investment fund AJ Bell. That compares [...]
City Pub Group plans to raise £22m to strengthen balance sheet March 27, 2020 City Pub Group is planning to raise £22m to bolster its balance sheet after the outbreak of coronavirus forced the closure of its pubs. The firm has already raised £15m through the placing of 30m new shares at 50p each, a 10.7 per cent discount to its closing price yesterday, to certain existing shareholders and [...]
Coronavirus: US stocks shake off dire unemployment data March 26, 2020 US stocks shook off awful unemployment data this afternoon to climb higher as traders pinned their hopes on a $2 trillion economic stimulus package. The Nasdaq rose 3.5 per cent by 4.30pm, while the Dow Jones climbed a whopping 4.9 per cent. The S&P 500 posted a large rise of 4.3 per cent. Yesterday the [...]
Coronavirus: Covent Garden landlord cans £100m share buyback plan as shops shut March 26, 2020 Coronavirus has turned Covent Garden into a ghost town and closed restaurants and shops will lead to lost rental cash, according to Capital & Counties (Capco). The owner of Covent Garden said in a Covid-19 update that most of its retail and dining units on its estate were shuttered and therefore it would incur “a [...]
Acclaimed chef Virgilio Martinez and Explora Peru come together to showcase the unique culinary identity of the Sacred Valley March 25, 2020 When most people think of Peru, it’s the ancient citadel Machu Picchu that comes to mind. And when you mention the Sacred Valley, it’ll likely conjure up similar images of hiking through misty mountains to equally mystical Incan ruins. This is, in fact, exactly what I’m doing. But I’m not only here for the archaeology; [...]
IFISAs: Invest in British entrepreneurs and maximise your tax-free ISA March 25, 2020 Innovative Finance ISAs offer an exciting alternative investment channel, helping you diversify your portfolio and maximising your £20,000 tax-free ISA allowance — all while supporting high performing British entrepreneurs. Finding the right businesses for your portfolio without skimping on the details you need to make an informed investment decision has always been a challenge. Crowd2Fund [...]
Oil prices knock UK inflation rate down to 1.7 per cent in February March 25, 2020 UK inflation slipped 0.1 per cent in February to 1.7 per cent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed today, as oil prices sank. Falling oil prices helped push the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) UK inflation rate down from 1.8 per cent in January, amid the ongoing coronavirus travel restrictions. Read more: Oil prices stage [...]