Berkeley suspends £455m shareholder payout over coronavirus March 12, 2020 Housebuilder Berkeley Group has suspended a £455m shareholder payout until there is more clarity on the economic impact of coronavirus. The property developer said there had been no noticeable impact on its own business so far, but warned that the effect on UK firms is still unknown. Berkeley Group said it was responsible to approach [...]
Coronavirus: Trump’s EU travel ban rattles Asian and US stocks March 12, 2020 Donald Trump last night issued a ban on travel from Europe to the US in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus, rattling US and Asian stocks. Trump suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for 30 days starting tomorrow to fight the outbreak. The president also announced other moves [...]
Balfour Beatty confirms delay to £200m share buyback due to coronavirus March 11, 2020 Shares in construction giant Balfour Beatty jumped today, despite confirmation it has scrapped a £200m share buyback. The confirmation comes after Sky News first reported the plan yesterday. Balfour Beatty posted a net profit, although it slipped from £135m in 2018 to £133m in 2019, a drop of 1.4 per cent. This was on the [...]
Budget 2020: Rishi Sunak gives economy £30bn boost amid coronavirus outbreak March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £30bn stimulus package to support the UK economy through the coronavirus outbreak in the biggest spending spree in almost 30 years. Sunak – who was made chancellor last month – said it was one of the most comprehensive responses to the outbreak by any government. The plan earmarks £12bn [...]
Number of UK coronavirus cases record biggest daily jump to 456 March 11, 2020 The number of UK coronavirus cases leapt by 83 today to a total of 456 Covid-19 infections, the Department of Health said today. Today’s rise marks a significant increase in the UK’s daily reported number of cases. Public Health England recorded 54 new cases yesterday morning, and 46 new cases on Monday morning. Doctors have [...]
How should investors act in a crisis? March 11, 2020 | City Talk With markets reeling from the effects of coronavirus, Schroders’ Group CIO, Johanna Kyrklund, highlights what investors should focus on. Coronavirus is the latest threat to market harmony that once again poses a timeless question: how should investors act in a crisis? Whether you’re a fund manager, responsible for billions of pounds of other people’s money, [...]
Chancellor Rishi Sunak extends sick pay amid coronavirus fears March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak today announced that sick pay measures will be extended to anyone advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus. In his Budget speech this afternoon, Sunak said anyone in isolation will be able to get a sick note by calling 111, while payments will be made from day one rather than day four. The [...]
Tech giants summoned to Downing Street in coronavirus crackdown March 11, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has summoned major tech firms to Downing Street tonight as the government cracks down on misinformation about coronavirus. Executives from all big social media companies are set to attend the Tech CEO Round Table, where they will be asked to commit “data, assets and expertise” to the fight against the outbreak. [...]
Michael Gove: Coronavirus might derail Brexit trade talks with EU March 11, 2020 Michael Gove has admitted coronavirus could derail the next round of trade talks with the EU amid “specific public health concerns”. Asked what impact the outbreak of the disease, which has led to the whole of Italy being put into lockdown, would have on the Brexit talks, the Cabinet Office minister told MPs it was [...]
Budget: Chancellor says coronavirus will be ‘front and centre’ as PM wishes minister speedy recovery March 11, 2020 This morning’s Cabinet meeting was dominated by a debate around coronavirus, after it emerged overnight that a health minister had tested positive. Mid Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries, who is a health minister, revealed she had the disease but was “over the worst of it”. She raised concerns about her elderly mother who “began with the [...]