COVID-19 Business News

wages, salary, furlough

Employers welcome UK government decision to extend furlough scheme

By Hal Williams A DECISION to extend the British government’s furlough programme has been met with relief by UK employers. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi...
Oil tanker at sea, platform in background

Oil price hits negative territory, Virgin ailing, firms need wage aid

CORONAVIRUS infections are dropping in many countries, but corporate and financial impacts are increasingly being felt. Virgin Australia is going into administration, the US oil...
Ukraine sunflowers field - Ukraine flag

Ukraine invasion could drive a recession and is crippling retail

Deloitte economist looks beyond the immediate tragedy of war to predict tough times ahead THE WAR in Ukraine has dramatically dialled up the risk of...
Covid, downward graph, pandemic debt concept

SMEs and the wolf at the door

By LUCY TROTT and KATIE PHILIPSON THROUGHOUT the pandemic, a steady stream of government support was made available to prop-up businesses. As we move towards a...
EU flag coronavirus graphic

Fresh EU coronavirus recovery package has detractors up north

EU HEADS have agreed to set up a €540bn post-pandemic recovery fund, tied to the EU’s seven-year budget. European Council president Charles Michel, who chaired...
Online Banking, Laptop

Banks ramp-up tech recruitment following pandemic — retail banking ‘may disappear’

The advance of digital currency is one thing, but the swiftness by banks to incorporate tech roles is another ANALYSTS predict online banking penetration in...
Luxury resort, pool, sea, palm tree

The birth of the travel subscription model

By DANA DUNNE THE SIGNIFICANT increase in subscription spending during the pandemic has caught the attention of businesses across the globe. In fact, according to...

UK faces ‘productivity collapse’ as remote workers admit they do less

BRITAIN’S economy is on the brink of a productivity collapse, with homebound workers admitting they get away with an average of two hours and...
Stock Market Charts Coronavirus

Markets catch a cold as virus fears infect stock exchanges

THE Nikkei Index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange has taken a tumble over fears at the spread of coronavirus. The 4.5 percent slump — which...
UN SDG9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG9: What a difference a president makes: Biden clears way for...

BV’s JASON AGNEW continues his series examining the background, implementation and ambitions of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with SDG9 — Industry, Innovation and...