FCA warns banks not to pressure corporate clients amid coronavirus April 28, 2020 The City watchdog today warned banks not to put pressure on their corporate clients to cut them into business in return for coronavirus loans. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) wrote to lenders to say it had heard “credible reports of a small number of banks failing to treat their corporate clients fairly” while negotiating coronavirus [...]
There is a difference between helicopter money and quantitative easing April 28, 2020 Many investors have it wrong. This round of central bank alchemy starring Jay Powell is not Ben Bernanke the Redux… Yes, on both occasions central bankers rode in on their white horses and saved the day by slashing rates, buying fixed income securities, flattening volatility and offering bazooka style forward guidance, and for that they deserve [...]
Guinness owner Diageo to raise $2.5bn through bond offering April 28, 2020 Guinness owner Diageo plans to raise $2.5bn through a bond offering, weeks after it was forced to scrap its share buyback scheme due to the coronavirus pandemic. The drinks giant, which also owns Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky, said the bond offering consisted of $750m 1.375 per cent fixed rate notes due 2025, $1bn [...]
Marks & Spencer scraps 2021 dividend and warns of prolonged coronavirus disruption April 28, 2020 Marks & Spencer (M&S) has cancelled next year’s dividend in order to save £210m as the retailer warned of prolonged disruption to trading. The high street giant said it was preparing a “never the same again” programme to make permanent changes to ways of working, which will be unveiled when the company publishes its full-year [...]
Economies in free fall as hopes fade for a V-shaped recovery April 28, 2020 Amongst the arguments about a lack of protective clothing for health workers and whether governments were too slow to react to the spread of Covid-19, the latest figures show that the pandemic is gradually coming under control. The rate of growth in new infections and fatalities around the world is slowing and the curves are [...]
Oil prices on brink of another collapse as storage dries up April 27, 2020 Oil prices were on the precipice this afternoon amid fears that a repeat of last week’s historic collapse into the negative could be on the cards. By mid-afternoon, the price of the June delivery contract for US standard West Texas Intermediate (WTI) had dropped nearly 28 per cent as storage facilities across the country approached [...]
Delays to UK’s full-fibre broadband rollout ‘could cost £30bn’ April 27, 2020 Delays to the government’s plan to roll out superfast broadband across the country could see the UK lose almost £30bn in economic benefits, according to research published today. Telecoms analysts warned a 12-month delay to the 2025 target would mean the UK misses out on a £9.7bn boost to the economy, while a two-year setback [...]
Easyjet board set for showdown with founder over Airbus contract April 27, 2020 Easyjet’s board has set the date for a showdown with founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who has been calling for the airline to scrap a £4.5bn order with Airbus. On May 22, shareholders will vote on whether to back the board’s plan to go through with the deal, which has been modified in light of the [...]
British spies urged to use artificial intelligence to fight security threats April 27, 2020 British spooks will need to use artificial intelligence (AI) to fight a range of threats to national security, according to a report published today. Intelligence agencies have been urged to use the technology to detect and block cyber attacks, analyse video and audio evidence, and automate administrative tasks. However, AI is unlikely to predict upcoming [...]
FTSE 100 pushes higher as Europe prepares to relax coronavirus lockdowns April 27, 2020 The FTSE 100 moved higher today as traders reacted to positive signs that European countries were preparing to ease coronavirus lockdown measures. The UK blue-chip index posted a rise of 1.4 per cent , or 81 points, to 5,833 by around 11.30am. The FTSE 100’s upbeat start to the day was more than matched by [...]