Politics

UK Government loan

Covid-19 loan schemes ‘a debt, not a grant’ cautions UK Finance

UK BUSINESSES are pessimistic about their growth potential once the COVID-19 crisis passes. A survey of 1,200 firms has found that the pandemic has negatively...
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...
Business closed

UK firms on cliff edge as crisis continues, distress tracker reveals

MORE than a half-a-million UK businesses are facing a high risk of insolvency, and 250,000 may not survive another month without a change to...
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...
Shrimp

Shrimps, time bombs — and need for study of wartime economies

By William Roman PICK a word starting with “C”… no, not coronavirus; not yet, anyway. The C here stands for crustaceans. The humble shrimp, for instance....
Hands, calculator, paperwork

Bid to ease virus impacts on cash flow ‘flawed’ — CEO

THE UK government’s proposed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CIBLS) is coming in for some criticism. HM Treasury and the Bank of England last week...
Tesco Colney Hatch by Michelle Davies

A crazed new world: coronavirus, paranoia, and Zombie Apocalypse shopping tips

By Hal Williams YOU WALK into the supermarket, intending to just pick up a few things, and wha…. ? The place is swarming. Shelves are...
UK currency, pound stering

Jingle of coins and rustle of banknotes: noises of the past?

By Hal Williams IT’S A CONFUSING time for cash in Britain — maybe even crunch time in the run-up to the Budget. The roll-out of limited...
Toy Soldier in Middle East

Tepid growth forecast in World Bank’s 2020 report

THE WORLD Bank forecasts a slight increase in global economic growth for 2020. But the operative word is “slight”: the bank’s prediction is for expansion...
Graphic - woman celebrating new job

Employment on the rise in UK with more women finding work

THE UK's unemployment rate is at its lowest level in nearly 45 years, holding a steady 3.8 percent in the three months to October. Figures...