Five charts that show the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism industry February 15, 2021 The travel and tourism industry has been one of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, with lockdowns and travel restrictions all but shutting business at times. Today the Office of National Statistics released its latest analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on the industry, and it doesn’t make for pretty reading. In 2018 the [...]
UK and EU plan post-Brexit Northern Ireland hotline for officials February 15, 2021 The UK and the EU are planning to create an emergency hotline for officials to discuss post-Brexit problems in Northern Ireland. European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said the Brexit treaty’s Northern Ireland protocol needed “day-to-day care” and that Brussels and London both wanted to de-escalate tensions. Tensions have escalated in Northern Ireland since the [...]
Scotland to Northern Ireland underwater tunnel could be green lit next month February 14, 2021 An underwater tunnel connecting Great Britain and Northern Ireland could get the green light as early as next month. The tunnel, which could be dubbed Boris’ Burrow, would help ease post-Brexit tensions, after Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement created checks for some goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Network Rail chair Sir Peter Hendy [...]
A new WTO boss who understands Africa is a good thing for the global economy February 14, 2021 After diplomatic horse-trading, the new head of the WTO has been all but confirmed – former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She will be the first African to take the role. The Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds, a former Foreign Office minister with responsibility for the continent, argues it’s a good thing for the globe. Okonjo-Iweala’s familiarity [...]
UK GDP: How City analysts reacted to the record economic slump February 12, 2021 The City was hit with some sobering figures this morning, as the latest official data showed UK GDP suffered its largest annual fall on record. The economy shrank 9.9 per cent in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but narrowly avoided a double-dip recession with growth of one per cent in the final [...]
Before the Bell: Firm focus on UK GDP numbers this morning February 12, 2021 It was another uneventful day in the markets yesterday as fresh news stories were thin on the ground. The same old headlines about vaccines being distributed and optimism with respect to President Biden getting his $1.9 trillion stimulus plan approved in the next few weeks continued to be the main focus of traders’ attention. Both [...]
UK GDP suffers largest contraction on record in 2020 February 12, 2021 UK gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 9.9 per cent last year, marking the largest annual fall on record. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed UK GDP grew one per cent in the fourth quarter of the year due to recovery in government consumption and business investment as Covid restrictions eased. That followed 16.1 [...]
UK unveils new £20m fund for British businesses facing Brexit disruption February 11, 2021 The UK has today announced a new £20m fund for British SMEs facing post-Brexit disruption. The grants will see SMEs that trade with the EU eligible for grants of up to £2,000 each to “pay for practical support including training and professional advice”. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove today told MPs that some issues facing [...]
Publisher Future given bloody nose over executive pay as profit surges February 11, 2021 Publishing group Future has suffered an investor revolt over executive pay, even as the magazine giant shrugged off the pandemic to post a sharp rise in profit. The board of Future, which owns titles such as Four Four Two and Country Life, has pushed through a controversial new pay scheme that could see chief executive [...]
Bitcoin + Gold = BOLD February 11, 2021 Tesla announced that they had invested $1.5bn in bitcoin and the price duly surged. Markets are more efficient than many believe, and in recent months, the bitcoin price has responded positively to known investment flows more than anything else. Back in the day, Bitcoin would spike on news that a coffee shop accepted payment in [...]