FTSE 100 and US stocks drop on economy warnings July 7, 2020 The FTSE 100 and US stocks have fallen as investors weigh persistent worries about the economy against countries’ moves to reopen after lengthy coronavirus lockdowns. London’s blue-chip index was 1.6 per cent lower this afternoon, at 6,187 points. It rose more than two per cent yesterday after Chinese shares rallied more than five per cent. [...]
Halifax: UK house prices suffer longest fall since 2010 July 7, 2020 UK house prices fell for the fourth month in a row in June for the first time since 2010, according to Halifax data released today. Unlike rival Nationwide, which found the value of homes shrank for the first time on an annual basis in June, Halifax recorded a 2.5 per cent-year-on-year rise. But as the [...]
Workers forced to pay extra tax for coronavirus tests July 7, 2020 Workers will be forced to pay income tax on coronavirus tests if their employers order them, it has been revealed. Newly released documents from the Treasury show that employees will face a “taxable benefit in kind” when their employers order the tests, meaning they are treated as extra workplace benefits. As workplaces will have to [...]
UK unemployment rate could hit 15 per cent with second Covid wave, says OECD July 7, 2020 The UK unemployment rate could soar to 15 per cent if there is a second wave of coronavirus infections, the OECD has said. Even without a second wave, the global economic organisation reckons unemployment could hit 11.7 per cent, a level not seen since the 1980s. It comes as the UK gradually reopens its economies [...]
Rishi Sunak to unveil £3bn green stimulus package July 7, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak will tomorrow announce a £3bn green investment package to create jobs and upgrade buildings as he tries to kick-start the UK’s economic recovery from the coronavirus lockdown. The Treasury said £1bn of the package will be spent on improving the energy efficiency of public buildings such as schools and hospitals. Sunak is [...]
Recovery Vouchers on the Blockchain July 7, 2020 In Sunday’s City AM it was reported that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering plans to hand £500 to every adult and £250 to every child to spend with businesses that are most affected by COVID-19 lockdown. The initial proposals include making these payments available via vouchers, travel cards or mobile phone credits. How could the [...]
London needs a homebuilding kickstart package, with social housing at its heart July 7, 2020 The government’s economic statement tomorrow is an opportunity for the chancellor to put building new homes at the heart of a plan to kickstart the recovery and help Britain bounce back after coronavirus. To achieve this, we need to see much more than Boris Johnson set out in his speech in Dudley last week. A [...]
Markets live: Nasdaq hits record intraday high as FTSE 100 rallies on recovery hopes July 6, 2020 The FTSE 100 and US stock markets rose sharply today as investors cheered the prospect of more stimulus for the UK economy and followed the lead of Asian markets. London’s index of blue-chip companies was 1.87 per cent higher this afternoon at 6,2572.5 points. The FTSE 250 index of slightly smaller firms rose 1.27 per [...]
High street footfall soars on Super Saturday after lockdown lift July 6, 2020 Footfall in England hiked almost 36 per cent on Saturday evening, according to new research, as revellers flocked to high streets around the country to enjoy their first pints out after more than three months of lockdown. New data released by Springboard today showed that footfall on English high streets rose 35.8 per cent on [...]
‘Serious concerns’ raised over government’s export credit agency July 6, 2020 The government’s export credit agency could be “cutting corners” as it races to finance the post-coronavirus and post-Brexit trade drive, raising “serious concerns” about the UK’s future trading relations, according to a new report. A report released today by anti-corruption campaign group Spotlight on Corruption found that UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit [...]