Amazon and Ebay blasted over failure to crack down on virus profiteers March 25, 2020 Amazon and Ebay are failing to clamp down on coronavirus profiteers using their platforms to sell products at “ridiculous” prices, a new investigation has revealed. Third-party sellers have been accused of exploiting the pandemic to ramp up prices for products that are difficult or impossible to find in local shops. Household items including cleaning products, [...]
Companies given longer to file Companies House accounts amid coronavirus turmoil March 25, 2020 Businesses are to be given an extra three months to file their accounts with Companies House to let them prioritise responding to the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced. Under the measures, which come into force today, any company that applies for an extension to file their results citing Covid-19 will automatically and immediately be granted [...]
Facebook warns ad business weakened by coronavirus crisis March 24, 2020 Facebook has reported a “weakening” of its advertising business during the coronavirus crisis, despite a surge in people using its services. The social media giant said this evening that in countries taking “aggressive actions” to reduce the spread of the virus, its ads business has been “adversely affected”. However, in the countries hit hardest by [...]
US stocks jump on hopes of coronavirus stimulus package March 24, 2020 US stocks soared this evening on hopes that congress was close to agreeing a $2 trillion stimulus package to protect the economy from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Wall Street’s S&P 500 index closed 9.3 per cent higher today, while the Dow Jones industrial average soared 11.37 per cent – its biggest one day [...]
Coronavirus: UK grocery sales soar £470m due to panic buying March 24, 2020 Grocery sales at UK supermarkets soared by £467m as customers stockpiled amid escalating fears over the spread of coronavirus in the UK, according to the latest research. Food sales jumped 22 per cent year-on-year in the week ending 14 March driven by an increase in essential household items and long lasting foods. Supermarkets were forced [...]
Oil prices stage brief rise thanks to Fed coronavirus action March 24, 2020 Oil prices rallied today after a torrid day yesterday. Brent crude was up to almost $28 a barrel and WTI crude futures is at $23, a four per cent rise on yesterday. This has been attributed to pledge from the Federal Banking Reserve to dramatically increase support for US business, although the US Senate could [...]
The gender pay reporting rules have been waived due to coronavirus March 24, 2020 The annual reporting of gender pay gaps at UK businesses will not be required this year. The Equality and Human Rights Commission and Government Equality Office made the announcement as the country comes to terms with unprecedented restrictions to combat coronavirus. Last night, the Prime Minister announced wide ranging restrictions on social interaction to prevent [...]
COVID-19: The first test for purposeful business? March 24, 2020 | City Talk There has been continued debate on the role of business in society, with many businesses keen to highlight their broader social contribution beyond their primary focus of generating profits for their shareholders. Coronavirus will cause the most significant disruption to the UK economy since the Second World War. It will affect businesses across numerous sectors, [...]
Coronavirus: Global airlines body says disease will cost industry $252bn March 24, 2020 Industry body the International Air Transport Association has more than doubled its previous estimates of the revenue damage that the coronavirus epidemic will do to the world’s airlines, now setting the figure at $252bn (£214bn). Due to the stringent travel bans and border closures that have been implemented around the world as the result of [...]
Hancock calls for 250,000 coronavirus volunteers as government readies London mega hospital March 24, 2020 The government has called for 250,000 healthy people to become volunteers, as part of efforts to support vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed the opening of a temporary new mega-hospital at London’s Excel centre. Leading the daily press conference from Downing Street, Hancock said the [...]