“The Government might have no choice but to resort to ordering businesses to close across the UK again,” says Samuel Tombs at Pantheon Macro. He says shops were not shown to be “major incubators for the virus”, but notes cases only started to rise when pubs, restaurants and other consumer […]
threat
Legal threat over ‘unfair’ Brexit deal on customs
Trade bodies have threatened legal action against the Government’s new Brexit customs system, claiming it will unfairly distort competition. In a heated meeting of HM Revenue and Customs’s expert customs panel, industry groups said the new Trader Support Service, which will enable the Government effectively to act as a customs agent […]
Travelodge sites under threat from rival operator
Up to 40 Travelodges could shut as landlords plot to replace them with a serviced apartment firm after being forced to accept rent cuts. The sites’ owners are in talks with Room2, part of family-owned property firm Lamington Group, which is seeking to launch a low-cost version of its “hometel” concept that combines […]
John Lewis, Boots and Burger King closures put 7,000 jobs under threat
John Lewis will also close shops at Heathrow airport and St Pancras station and four At Home outlets in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth. Chairman Dame Sharon White said closing the stores, which were already in trouble before the lockdown, were necessary to help secure the Partnership’s future. However, the […]
Dow plunges 1,800 points as Wall Street wakes up to pandemic threat
NEW YORK — Wall Street’s magical run came to a crushing end Thursday as fears of a second wave of the coronavirus wiped out any notion of the market’s immunity from the economic consequences. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 1,862 points to 25,128 after spikes in coronavirus infections […]
Dow plunges 1,800 as Wall Street wakes up to pandemic threat
NEW YORK — Wall Street’s magical run came to a crushing end Thursday as fears of a second wave of the coronavirus wiped out any notion of the market’s immunity from the economic consequences. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 1,862 points to 25,128 after spikes in coronavirus infections […]
China’s threat to boycott Britain’s insane nuclear plan is wonderful news
If China pulls the plug, it clarifies the issue. We can bin the whole misguided notion of nuclear expansion and look to cheaper, cleaner, safer, and quicker sources of power. Hinkely’s strike price is £92.50 per MWh (2012 prices). The latest auctions for offshore wind on the Dogger Bank have […]
Nepal ruling party split over US aid threat to China relations
KATHMANDU — There are widening divisions in the leadership of Nepal’s ruling party over a U.S. promise of aid that rivals of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli worry will damage the country’s blossoming relations with China. A Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant agreed in 2017 has widened splits in the Nepal Communist Party. Oli has been pushing for […]
More oil jobs under threat after BP wields the axe
BP’s moves come at a time when large European oil players are attempting to reinvent themselves. BP, Shell, and Italy’s Eni have all announced plans to slash carbon emissions and gradually adjust their businesses for a world without fossil fuels. In a recent memo to staff, Shell’s chief executive said that […]
how I’m protecting myself against the threat of rising inflation
That means British government bonds, known as gilts, will necessarily fall (the amount of interest paid is fixed, so the yield rises through a fall in the market price of the bond). The fall could be very heavy for long-term gilts. For example, the 4.25pc gilt repayable in 2040 is […]