COVID-19 Business News

Zara shop

Online push from Inditex as up to 1,200 stores to close

INDITEX, the Spanish owner of fashion and clothing stores Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear and Massimo Dutti, will close up to 1,200 outlets around...
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...
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Autumn Statement

Sunak’s Budget brings relief to many – with a few misgivings

By HAL WILLIAMS THE BRITISH chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the 2021 Budget, with pledges to help recovery from the Covid pandemic. The support package for...
US Federal Reserve building

Holdun Family Office finds serenity and growth amid pandemic chaos —...

Holdun’s uncorrelated Alternative Investment Funds provide shelter from the oscillations of the volatile equity market. MICHAEL O’CONNOR reports. THE FIRST half of 2020 has been...
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...
Tablet showing graphs, technology, fintech

Fintech funding key to keeping SMEs strong after end of loans

ONE OF Europe’s largest business lenders says the fintech industry must be strengthened to support SMEs after the Bounce Back Loan scheme closes at...
Zoom conference call on laptop

SMEs head online to counter lockdown — and find surprise benefits

SMALL UK businesses are moving the bulk of their services online as the sector takes tentative steps towards recovery. Small Business Britain and BT Skills...
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...
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...