UK coronavirus deaths rise by 428 to 33,614 May 14, 2020 The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has risen by 428 to 33,614 people, according to the Department of Health. The latest death toll counts those who tested positive for coronavirus and died by 5pm on 13 May. The health department said there have been 2,219,281 coronavirus tests as of 9am today, with 126,064 [...]
BBC Four faces closure as TV bosses battle £125m Covid-19 shortfall May 14, 2020 BBC Four is set to be axed as the corporation’s bosses look to cut costs and divert dwindling funds to attract younger audiences. Executives are preparing to shutter the channel and divert some of its budget to BBC Three, its key focus for winning over 16 to 34-year-olds, the Telegraph reported. The highbrow channel, which [...]
House price decline hurts Just Group’s solvency ratio May 14, 2020 Specialist pension provider Just Group posted a drop in its solvency ratio today after interest rates plunged around the world over the economic fallout of coronavirus. The insurer told investors its Solvency II coverage ratio has dropped three points to 138 per cent at the end of April 2020. European Solvency II rules stipulate how [...]
Private equity firm 3i Group holds dividend despite profit slump May 14, 2020 Buyout firm 3i Group today said it will pay its 2020 dividend as planned despite a collapse in profit caused by the coronavirus crisis. 3i said it would keep its total dividend of 35p per share for this year, with a dividend of 17.5p per share to be granted in July subject to shareholder approval. [...]
Square Mile lockdown: City firms plot staff’s return to work May 14, 2020 City banks and professional services firms are drawing up plans to send staff back to the office as the UK begins to ease its coronavirus lockdown. Earlier this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that people who can work from home should continue to do so, as he laid out guidance to make workplaces “Covid-secure”. [...]
Lloyd’s of London expects to pay up to $4.3bn in coronavirus insurance claims May 14, 2020 Insurance market Lloyd’s of London today said it expected to pay out $3bn-to-$4.3bn (£2.5bn-to-£3.5bn) in claims stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. This is on par with the September 11 attacks in 2001 and to the combined impacts of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017. Lloyd’s said the overall cost to the global insurance industry [...]
The City View podcast: Money laundering and terrorism – compliance in the age of coronavirus May 14, 2020 Christian is joined by Charles Delingpole, founder and CEO of ComplyAdvantage, a compliance and risk management platform using AI and machine learning to keep companies on the right side of the law. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Sanctions, scams and criminal activities all pose huge risks for businesses but how has the pandemic affected [...]
Commercial radio pulls in record audience ahead of Covid-19 lockdown May 14, 2020 UK commercial radio stations attracted their largest ever audience in the first three months of the year as Brits tuned in ahead of the full coronavirus lockdown. Roughly 36.3m people tuned in to commercial radio each week in the first quarter — the highest figure ever recorded. The sector’s average listening time was also up [...]
Uber to spend $50m on safety kit as it tells drivers and passengers to wear masks May 13, 2020 Uber has set aside $50m (£41m) to buy personal protective equipment for drivers as it introduces new rules requiring all users to wear face masks. Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi today told reporters that the ride-hailing app will roll out a string of new safety measures as it looks to address concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic. [...]
Tencent revenue rises as Covid-19 lockdown drives mobile gaming boom May 13, 2020 Tencent today posted a rise in revenue and profit for the first quarter as global coronavirus lockdowns boosted demand for its blockbuster mobile games. The Chinese tech conglomerate posted revenue of 108bn yuan (£12.4bn) in the first three months of the year — up 26 per cent year on year. Profit attributable to equity holders [...]