News And Announcements
Covid-19: UK self-employed to receive 80% of salary
Self-employed workers hit by the coronavirus crisis will receive a government grant worth 80% of earnings under a new scheme unveiled on Thursday, but would have to wait until June to get the cash, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said on Thursday.
G20 pledges to do "whatever it takes" to tackle Covid-19 pandemic
The G20 insisted on Thursday it would do “whatever it takes” to overcome the coronavirus outbreak.
ECB rules out using eurozone debt crisis tool for Covid-19 - reports
The European Central Bank has reportedly ruled out using the emergency Outright Monetary Transactions scheme to tackle the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
BoE keeps door open to further increase in asset purchases
Rate-setters at the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street warned on Thursday that a "sharp" contraction in economic activity around the globe was likely, alongside a "rapid" rise in unemployment across many economies.
US initial jobless claims surge past 3m due to Covid-19
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits surged to a record 3. 28 million last week as businesses shut down and people were let go due to the coronavirus.
Deutsche sees hope for equities but HSBC predicts earnings 'hammer blow'
Deutsche Bank said equity markets were pricing in declines in activity and earnings but HSBC was more cautious as it predicted a "hammer blow" for earnings from the Covid-19 crisis.
Retail sales already on back foot before Covid-19 outbreak - ONS
The UK high street was already flagging in February, official data showed on Thursday, as heavy rain and widespread flooding kept people out of shops.
Covid-19 to send German consumer sentiment sliding in April
German consumer confidence looked set to slide in April amid the coronavirus outbreak, to its lowest level since 2009, according to a survey released on Thursday by market research group GfK.
FCA gives firms 2 month extension to file results
Britain's financial regulator gave listed companies an extra two months to file results to properly gauge the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.