HSBC first quarter profit halves on coronavirus pandemic April 28, 2020 HSBC saw coronavirus rip its first quarter profit in half today as it counted a huge $2.4bn jump in credit losses as a result of the pandemic. The bank’s share price declined 1.7 per cent to 409.3p in early trading as it revealed profit before tax sank 48 per cent year on year to $3.21bn. [...]
Shoppers spend extra £524m at UK supermarkets in April April 28, 2020 Shoppers spent an extra £524m at UK supermarkets during the coronavirus lockdown compared to April last year. Grocery sales soared 9.1 per cent in the 12 weeks to 19 April, which were £524m higher in the past four weeks than they were in April 2019. Households made a record low 14 trips to UK supermarkets [...]
Santander first quarter profit plunges 82 per cent on coronavirus April 28, 2020 Spain’s Santander bank posted an 82 per cent year-on-year slump in quarterly net profit todayas it booked higher provisions for expected credit losses from the coronavirus outbreak. The Eurozone’s second-largest bank by market value reported a profit of €331m (£288.5m) for the first quarter ended in March. Overall loan-loss provisions rose 80 per cent after [...]
The City View podcast, from City A.M., with Miles Celic April 28, 2020 In this episode Christian is joined by Miles Celic, chief executive of The City UK – the membership group for financial and professional services, a sector accounting for 10 per cent of the UK’s economic output. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS The sector is also under intense [...]
Lloyds gives staff at risk stay of execution during coronavirus pandemic lockdown April 27, 2020 Lloyds Banking Group has given staff in redundancy an extra month of breathing space during the coronavirus lockdown. The bank said last month it would pause plans to cut 780 jobs during the crisis. However, those already going through the redundancy process faced an unknown fate, with one source telling City A.M. they feared Lloyds [...]
Gambling firms pull TV and radio advertising during Covid-19 lockdown April 27, 2020 The UK’s major gambling and betting firms today said they will remove all TV and radio advertising for the remainder of the Covid-19 lockdown. Existing ad slots will be replaced by safer gambling messages, donated to charities or removed from broadcast for at least six weeks. The decision is aimed at protecting customers during the [...]
UK events industry calls for access to government support amid business collapse fears April 27, 2020 The UK events industry has urged the government to provide clarification on the financial support available for the sector, amid concerns that thousands of businesses could collapse over the next three months. Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed in the House of Commons last month that event hire firms are eligible for the business rates holiday and [...]
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 [...]
Coronavirus: Government must be more imaginative to save small businesses April 27, 2020 The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILs) was launched to much fanfare, with people lining up to praise the far-sighted, generous nature of the programme and proclaim how much it would do for small business. A staggering £330 billion was set aside for interest-free loans, with the Government willing to sit behind 80 per cent [...]
Boris Johnson: Lifting UK lockdown too early would spell ‘economic disaster’ April 27, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson today warned the UK could face an “economic disaster” if the lockdown ends too early, urging businesses to be patient as he returned to Downing Street. The Prime Minister said the UK was “beginning to turn the tide” on coronavirus. But he cautioned against lifting the coronavirus lockdown restrictions too early, [...]