Coronavirus: Barratt Developments scraps dividend March 25, 2020 Housebuilder Barratt Developments has scrapped its £100m payout to shareholders over the business uncertainty caused by coronavirus. Barratt, which has closed all of its sites, said it expects the coronavirus outbreak to have a “significant impact” on construction output and reservations and has cancelled all previous financial guidance. The company said that due to the [...]
UK coronavirus home testing kits to be made available ‘within days’ March 25, 2020 Coronavirus home testing kits will be made available in the UK within a matter of days, rather than weeks or months, according to health officials. Professor Sharon Peacock, director of the National Infection Service, told the science and technology committee that 3.5m tests had been bought and would be available “within days”. The coronavirus kits [...]
Storage space issues could force oil prices down to $10 March 25, 2020 Oil prices could hit $10 per barrel as storage facilities across the world run out of space amid a coronavirus-inspired price war, it is reported. Worldwide oil storage has reached three quarters of capacity, it was reported today, after Saudi Arabia flooded the market with cheap oil to hurt its rival, Russia. Canada, a key [...]
With every crisis comes an opportunity, so what should a post-coronavirus UK work towards? March 25, 2020 The world is in crisis. All over the world, governments and businesses – and most importantly people – are slowly adjusting to a world that seemed implausible only a few weeks ago. Yet here we are. And if there is any certainty now, it is that we are unlikely to emerge from this to return [...]
How coronavirus is turning the spotlight on sustainable investing March 25, 2020 | City Talk It is difficult to start any article without referring to the threat presented by the coronavirus sweeping across countries. The human impacts are clearly devastating for anyone affected, even if the overall impact is at present relatively small in the context of major pandemics through history. The economic and financial impacts are also proving significant. [...]
21-year-old woman reportedly dies from coronavirus in UK March 25, 2020 A 21-year-old woman is reportedly the youngest person with no pre-existing medical conditions to have died after contracting coronavirus in the UK. Chloe Middleton, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, is believed to have died on 21 March. In a Facebook post her mother, Diane Middleton, said: “To all the people out there that thinks it’s just [...]
Electric cars can transport Britain to a greener future March 25, 2020 As the UK lockdown begins, now is a chance to pause, to take a step back, and consider how our world moves forward when the Covid-19 crisis is over. Right now, we are all staying at home, but when we can travel once again, what does the future of transportation look like? Britain is still [...]
This pandemic may lead to more trade barriers, but is that such a bad thing? March 25, 2020 The current crisis dominates everything, from trade to everyday life. But, within a relatively short space of time, it will pass. What next? What will be the “new normal” after coronavirus? A key policy aim across the west for many decades since the Second World War was to reduce barriers to international trade. But it [...]
PM warns Mike Ashley – obey the rules or face the consequences March 25, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley to “obey the rules or to expect the consequences”, after the retailing heavyweight insisted staff must continue working during the coronavirus outbreak. During a bumper PMQs, Johnson was repeatedly asked about the situation facing workers, particularly self-employed, who currently have no additional support beyond [...]
Qantas raises over AU$1bn to guard against coronavirus disruption March 25, 2020 Australian flag carrier Qantas has secured over AU$1bn (£501m) worth of new funding as the airline seeks to bolster its financial position against the ongoing coronavirus disruption. The debt, which has been taken out against seven of the airlines’ 787-9 planes, will hold for 10 years at an interest rate of 2.75 per cent. This [...]