Analysis: Which demographics are still dying of Covid-19 the most? September 10, 2021 The UK’s immunisation programme is well underway, with 80.4 per cent of the population over the age of 16 receiving their second dose as of today, according to official government data. Despite immunisation rates steadily increasing, the number of deaths in the week to 27 August jumped 17.8 per cent to 649 across the country, [...]
Covid and Brexit brew ‘perfect storm’ as Ikea stores hit by supply issues September 6, 2021 Ikea has been hit by the UK’s current lorry driver shortage, as it confirmed it is struggling with supplying around 1,000 of its product lines. The shortages, including mattresses in some stores, has been ignited by both the pandemic and Brexit, the Swedish furniture giant said. “Like many retailers, we are experiencing ongoing challenges with [...]
UK to share 4m vaccines with Australia September 3, 2021 The UK and Australia have agreed to a partnership which will see some 4m vaccines shared with each other, as Britain’s double-jabbed population nears 80 per cent. Britain will be the first to ship over the large batch of Pzifer/BioNTech jabs, while Australia will return the same number before the end of the year. It [...]
Covid vaccine: Immunosuppressed people in the UK to receive third dose September 1, 2021 Around half a million people in the UK whose immune systems are severely weakened will be offered a third primary vaccine dose, following a new recommendation announced by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) today. Anyone over the age of 12 who was immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose [...]
Zoom bags first $1bn quarter but demand for the Covid-19 essential is fading August 31, 2021 Zoom, which became a household name amid the pandemic, has recorded its first billion-dollar revenue in just one quarter – but demand for its Covid-19 essential service is quickly weening. The company forecast revenue of between $1.015bn and $1.020bn for its third quarter, which inched past analysts’ average estimate of $1.013bn, according to Refinitiv data. [...]
Covid protection from two vaccine doses fades after six months August 25, 2021 Protection against Covid offered by two doses of the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca vaccines begins to fade within six months underscoring the need for booster jabs according to UK researchers. Scientists behind the Zoe Covid Study app said that effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against infection fell from 88 per cent to 74 per cent five to six [...]
England and Wales record highest Covid deaths since March August 24, 2021 Data published today shows that England and Wales recorded 571 Covid-related deaths in the week ending August 13, the highest in five months. According to data from the ONS the figure is the highest since the week ending March 26 when coronavirus was mentioned on 719 death certificates. In the week ending August 13, Covid-related [...]
UK government secures deal for 35 million Pfizer vaccines August 23, 2021 The UK government has agreed a contract for 35 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to “future proof” the country from the threat of Covid-19. The deal, announced today, will ensure that more vaccines are available in the second half of 2022 to protect against current and future variants of the virus. Health and Social [...]
New Zealand to enter strict lockdown after single Covid-19 case detected August 17, 2021 New Zealand is set to enter its highest level of lockdown tonight after detecting a single case of Covid-19 in Auckland, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed. A 58-year-old man has been found to have the virus – the first coronavirus case within New Zealand’s borders for 170 days. The strict restrictions comes amid concerns [...]
Strategic asset allocation or how I learned to stop worrying and love dispersion August 10, 2021 | City Talk For decades, strategic asset allocation has been considered the driving force behind investment portfolio returns. But the old adage that allocation determines 90 per cent of performance is rapidly becoming outdated. During 2020 and 2021, we have seen how the world of investing is shifting from one in which declining interest rates drive beta performance [...]