The announcement of a second lockdown will see the government extend its aid to afflicted households and businesses. There will be a continuation of the furlough scheme as well as similar help for the self-employed, plus further payment holidays for mortgages and other loans. Live coronavirus updates from the UK and around the world Please
Business
The furlough scheme will be extended until the end of March, the chancellor has announced. Rishi Sunak made the announcement in a statement to MPs, telling them that the payments would remain at 80% of people’s wages. The policy will be reviewed in January, he told the Commons, to “decide whether economic circumstances are improving
Nearly 80 business leaders from the north of England are backing a plea to Boris Johnson from the region’s “Red Wall” Tory MPs for a roadmap out of lockdown and a post-Covid economic recovery plan. In a move turning up the heat on the prime minister as England goes into a four-week lockdown, the business
Primark’s inability to trade online during coronavirus lockdowns has prompted a 40% slump in its parent firm’s annual profits. Associated British Foods (ABF) said enforced closures of the discount fashion retailer’s stores lost it an estimated £2bn in revenue and outweighed increases to its bottom line from its sugar, grocery, agriculture and ingredients divisions in
The one thing financial markets want from the US presidential election is a clear result. The worst possible outcome would be a contested result, as in 2000, when it took 38 days for the US Supreme Court to confirm George W Bush’s victory over Al Gore. Donald Trump’s frequent hints during the election campaign that
China has pulled the plug on plans for a record-breaking $34.5bn stock market float by online finance giant Ant Group just two days before it was due to take place. It came after the company’s bosses – including billionaire founder Jack Ma – were summoned to a meeting with regulators. The Shanghai stock exchange cited
The first arrests have been made over alleged fraud linked to the Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme, as well as coronavirus bounceback loans. Officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) arrested three men in London on suspicion of cheating the public revenue and fraud by false representation. The men are aged 43, 48
A leading private equity investor is close to clinching a takeover of Hovis that will return the bread-maker to British ownership. Sky News has learnt that Endless is in advanced talks to buy Hovis after a bidding war against Newlat Food, an Italian food producer. Sources said that a deal could be confirmed as soon
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is cutting a further 1,500 jobs through a shake-up of its head office functions to save cash as the coronavirus crisis continues to take a toll on sales. The employee-owned retailer had already shed 1,390 roles in the wake of pandemic disruption this year that saw eight underperforming John Lewis
Lloyds Banking Group is to cut 1,070 jobs under a plan to simplify structures in some back office operations. The bank said that the shake-up – the latest in a string of announcements – would affect its group transformation and retail bank teams and result in 730 net jobs lost. That was because the plans
Global stock markets are retreating from recent rallies – with the result of the US election too close to call. Futures had showed New York’s Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices all set to climb sharply at Wednesday’s open – building on gains seen on both Monday and Tuesday – but the gains started
Marks & Spencer has recorded a financial loss for the first time in its 94 years as a public company after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to shutter stores. Half-year results to the 26 September showed clothing and home sales were hammered by the closure of non-essential retail during the first COVID-19 lockdown that began
When Boris Johnson belatedly agreed to offer “remarks to business” to the CBI Conference, delegates tuning in virtually would have done so with keener interest than usual. Until now the prime minister’s most notable message to the boss class was, famously, “f*** business”, an off-the-cuff remark offered when, as foreign secretary, he was asked about
Redefining Building & Design Standards with Natural Disaster Resistant Safe SuperStructures™ Studio RMA™ CEO Robert Mechielsen™ has raised the industry standard with his development of the First US Carbon Neutral Safe SuperStructure™ for construction and architectural industries, corporations, and residential and commercial properties. Defying the odds of natural disaster with impressive aesthetic appeal, these Patent- Pending Inventions that are
Dchained (https://dchained.com/) recently announced the official launch of its crypto-investment learning platform. Filled with up-to-date news, expert articles and newsletters, discussion forums with insiders, live Q&A sessions, archived content library, and an active community, the Dchained platform is intended to be the go-to reference destination for investors seeking crypto-currency information and insights. The platform offers
Boripe community primary health care centre located in Osun state, SouthWest Nigeria is wearing a new look with the purchase of medicines, medical equipments and painting of the external facility. The facility upgrade is funded by the WishWall Foundation and coordinated by iRead To Live Initiative, Nigeria. The primary health centre serves a minimum of about 800