Coronavirus: How is business in Italy coping with the crisis? March 15, 2020 Milan. City of the Sforzas, La Scala, Internazionale, Giorgio Armani and Dario Fo. The Lombard capital is also the beating heart of the Italian economy; home to the stock exchange; Italian business success stories such as Unicredit, Versace and Pirelli; and outposts of overseas financial institutions, multinationals, law firms and consultancy giants. Sadly, Milan is [...]
Keith Wade: Is the world now heading for recession? March 13, 2020 As I returned to the UK last weekend, my taxi driver talked of panic-buying and impending food shortages. Having wondered if I had stepped off at the wrong airport, it subsequently became clear that his thinking was very close to that of the markets. On Monday (9 March), equities sold off and credit spreads widened [...]
How to lead your business through a crisis like coronavirus March 13, 2020 Leadership, at every level, is about to be tested in a way in which it has never been tested before. We’re now in uncharted territory in the spread of Covid-19. The first thing to accept is that leading in a crisis is very different from leading in normal times. I learned that the hard way [...]
Corona Crash: Global markets suffer worst day since 1987 as virus spreads March 13, 2020 The FTSE 100 yesterday chalked up its biggest one-day fall since the Black Monday crash in 1987, plunging 10.87 per cent as the scale and likely impact of the coronavirus pandemic became clear. After a sea of dire corporate warnings across the globe, US stocks also suffered their biggest fall since 1987 before the New [...]
ECB stimulus measures underwhelms investors disappointed by lack of rate cut March 12, 2020 The European Central Bank has unveiled a fresh stimulus package to help fight the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic , but markets were left dismayed as the ECB unexpectedly stopped short of an interest rate cut. With millions of European citizens under lockdown and equities across the continent in freefall, the ECB had come [...]
Coronavirus: The impact on the sporting world as numerous events are disrupted March 12, 2020 In the space of a week the coronavirus pandemic has gone from having a minimal impact on the world’s sporting events to causing vast swathes of postponements and contests played out behind closed doors. This week saw the first Premier League game postponed due to Covid-19, Champions League matches played in empty stadiums and two [...]
ECB to let eurozone banks breach key requirements due to coronavirus March 12, 2020 The European Central Bank said that eurozone banks will be allowed to fall short of some key capital and cash requirements as lenders grapple with the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement came soon after ECB monetary policymakers announced a new stimulus package, marking an unprecedented synchronised action by the central bank’s two [...]
BBC could take pensioners to court over licence fee evasion March 12, 2020 Pensioners could be hauled in front of a judge amid an ongoing row over payment of the BBC licence fee, the broadcaster’s director general has said. Lord Tony Hall today admitted that some people in their 80s and 90s could be taken to court if they fail to pay the £157.50 charge. Speaking during a [...]
NMC Health finds evidence of fraud as shares in sister firm Finablr collapse March 12, 2020 Beleaguered hospital operator NMC Health said an investigation into its finances had uncovered evidence indicating suspected fraud in some of its previous financial activities. NMC Health launched an external review into allegations over its finances after coming under attack from US short-seller Muddy Waters in December. Read more: NMC Health identifies $2.7bn in additional debt [...]
Budget 2020: Borrowing to jump while economy slows March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget splurge will put a rocket under government borrowing, the UK’s spending watchdog said today in forecasts that do not include the economic hit from coronavirus. The government is now set to borrow close to £100bn more over the next four years than it planned to just a few months ago, the [...]