Full List Of Stories
B&M European Value Retail to temporarily close 49 UK stores, furlough staff
Discount retailer B&M European Value Retail said on Wednesday that it will temporarily close 49 of its UK stores "in light of current trading conditions" and that staff at the affected stores will be furloughed.
Sports Direct said to be cutting executives' pay amid Covid-19
Frasers Group, the owner of Sports Direct, will reportedly restrict the salaries of its top executives to a maximum of £40,000 as it looks to guarantee March and April salaries for more than 20,000 employees.
London midday: Stocks fall further after manufacturing data; banks slide
London stocks had fallen further into the red by midday on Wednesday after the release of weak UK manufacturing figures and with banks under pressure as they were pressed to cancel their dividends to help weather the coronavirus pandemic.
UK manufacturing output falls at fastest rate in 8 years
UK manufacturing output fell in March at its fastest rate in eight years, while employment declined at the fastest rate in more than a decade as the coronavirus outbreak and efforts to slow its spread took their toll, according to data released on Wednesday.
BAT hails breakthrough with potential Covid-19 vaccine
British American Tobacco said on Wednesday that it has made a "significant breakthrough" with its tobacco plant technology platform in the development of a potential vaccine for Covid-19.
London open: Stocks slide as banks cancel dividends
London stocks slid in early trade on Wednesday amid growing concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, with banks under the cosh as they cancelled their dividends to help weather the pandemic.
ContourGlobal announces £30m share buyback
Power generation company ContourGlobal has announced a £30m share buyback programme.
Coats Group CFO Boddie to retire
Industrial thread manufacturer Coats Group said on Wednesday that chief financial officer Simon Boddie plans to retire at the end of March 2021 "to pursue further non-executive opportunities".
Qinetiq to postpone decision on final dividend due to Covid-19
Defence company Qinetiq said on Wednesday that it will postpone a decision on whether to pay a final full-year dividend until later in the year, when there is greater clarity on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
London pre-open: Stocks to slide again after downbeat US, Asian sessions
London stocks were set for more heavy losses on Wednesday following weak sessions in the US and Asia amid growing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Low pay, JD Sports, construction works
The government has been warned it could be forced to abandon targets for ending low pay in Britain by raising the legal minimum wage, as the economic costs of Covid-19 mount. The Low Pay Commission, the independent body which advises ministers on legal wage floors, said the government target to increase the national living wage to two-thirds of average earnings by 2024 could be in danger. – Guardian.