cityam--2020-11-05--Breaking: Rishi Sunak extends furlough scheme until end of March

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the furlough scheme until the end of March , following days of wrangling over fresh financial support for businesses during the second national lockdown .
The furlough scheme , which was due to wind down last Saturday , will be rolled out for the next five months — a year after it was first introduced , Sunak announced in the Commons today .
The chancellor said the government will pay up to 80 per cent of wages for staff unable to work during local and national lockdowns across the country .
Sunak announced the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was due to hand employers £1,000 for every furloughed member of staff returned to work .
The chancellor said the government will “ redeploy ” the retention bonus “ at the appropriate time ” .
It will also extend income support grants for the self-employed to cover 80 per cent of average profits up to £7,500 until January .
Cash grants of up to £3,000 per month will be handed to businesses forced to shutter , worth more than £1bn each month , the chancellor announced .
“ I ’ ve always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK — and that has meant adapting our support as the path of the virus has changed , ” said Sunak .
“ It ’ s clear the economic effects are much longer lasting for businesses than the duration of any restrictions , which is why we have decided to go further with our support.
” He added : “ Extending furlough and increasing our support for the self-employed will protect millions of jobs and give people and businesses the certainty they need over what will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes after the government ’ s announcement of a month-long national lockdown in England sparked a row with Scotland and Wales .
Scottish and Welsh leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford argued that it was unfair on the devolved nations that the furlough scheme should only be extended until 2 December while England is in lockdown .
Although health policy is devolved , furlough policy for the four nations is still decided by Westminster .
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that more than 7.5 per cent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 October .
Sunak was set to scrap the furlough scheme in November in favour of a more complicated and less comprehensive Job Support Scheme , which would see the government pay two thirds of employees ’ salaries to businesses forced to shutter under fresh lockdown measures .
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn , outgoing director of the CBI , said : “ As lockdown shutters come down for many firms , extending furlough till next spring is the right thing to do .
“ Firms and employees need more certainty and stability to plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scheme ] extension will help.
” Frances O ’ Grady , general secretary of the TUC , which represents more than 5.5m workers across the country , said : “ Working families need financial security to get through the times tough ahead .
And employers need an end to last-minute decisions.
” Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously fought against an extension of the furlough scheme , warning that it “ can not go on forever ” .
Simon Lyle UK managing director of outplacement firm Randstad Risesmart , told City A.M : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle against economic reality with programmes like the Jobs Support Scheme and the furlough scheme .
“ These schemes just put the jobs market in a holding pattern .
Meanwhile the plane is running out of fuel — the jobs market can ’ t fly on indefinitely like this .
It will cause economic pain for years to come.
” It comes hours after the Bank of England unveiled an extra £150bn of financial support to boost the UK ’ s ailing economy , as a nationwide lockdown comes into force across England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome furlough extension as ‘ survival mode ’ kicks in The figure was bigger than the £100bn of purchases analysts had expected from the Bank , and will take the total stock of bond purchases to £895bn .
Governor Andrew Bailey has said the Bank thinks quantitative easing is currently the most effective stimulus tool for the UK economy , despite negative interest rates being in the “ toolbox ” of possible measures .
Speaking in the Commons today , Sunak said he was in “ constant communication ” with Bailey , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ti complement each other and provide certainty and support to people and businesses across the UK .
”

Rishi Sunak extends furlough scheme until end of March
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the furlough scheme until the end of March, following days of wrangling over fresh financial support for businesses during the second national lockdown.
The furlough scheme, which was due to wind down last Saturday, will be rolled out for the next five months — a year after it was first introduced, Sunak announced in the Commons today.
The chancellor said the government will pay up to 80 per cent of wages for staff unable to work during local and national lockdowns across the country.
Sunak announced the government will suspend the job retention bonus, which was due to hand employers £1,000 for every furloughed member of staff returned to work.
The chancellor said the government will “redeploy” the retention bonus “at the appropriate time”.
He also announced an extension to income support grants for the self-employed to cover 80 per cent of average profits up to £7,500 until January.
Cash grants of up to £3,000 per month will be handed to businesses forced to shutter, as the government scrambles to prevent wide-scale business closures and job losses alongside the second national lockdown.
“I’ve always said I would do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK — and that has meant adapting our support as the path of the virus has changed,” Sunak told the House of Commons this afternoon.
“It’s clear the economic effects are much longer lasting for businesses than the duration of any restrictions, which is why we have decided to go further with our support.”
He added: “Extending furlough and increasing our support for the self-employed will protect millions of jobs and give people and businesses the certainty they need over what will be a difficult winter.”
The move comes after the government’s announcement of a month-long national lockdown in England sparked a row with Scotland and Wales.
Scottish and Welsh leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford argued that it was unfair on the devolved nations that the furlough scheme should only be extended until 2 December while England is in lockdown.
They argued that although health policy is devolved to the four nations, furlough policy is still decided by Westminster.
It comes after the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that more than 7.5 per cent of the UK workforce was still on furlough on 18 October.
Sunak was set to scrap the furlough scheme in November in favour of a less comprehensive Job Support Scheme, which would see the government pay two thirds of employees’ salaries to businesses forced to shutter under fresh lockdown measures.
But the move sparked backlash from top industry figures who warned the disposal of the furlough scheme during a nationwide lockdown would cripple businesses already on their knees from months of decimated trading.
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, outgoing director of the CBI, said: “As lockdown shutters come down for many firms, extending furlough till next spring is the right thing to do.
“Firms and employees need more certainty and stability to plan and recover; a [Jobs Retention Scheme] extension will help.”
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, which represents more than 5.5m workers across the country, said: “Working families need financial security to get through the times tough ahead. And employers need an end to last-minute decisions.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously fought against an extension of the furlough scheme, warning that it “cannot go on forever”.
Simon Lyle, UK managing director of outplacement firm Randstad Risesmart, told City A.M: “The government is fighting a losing battle against economic reality with programmes like the Jobs Support Scheme and the furlough scheme.
“These schemes just put the jobs market in a holding pattern. Meanwhile the plane is running out of fuel — the jobs market can’t fly on indefinitely like this. It will cause economic pain for years to come.”
It comes hours after the Bank of England unveiled an extra £150bn of financial support to boost the UK’s ailing economy, as a nationwide lockdown comes into force across England today.
The figure was bigger than the £100bn of purchases analysts had expected from the Bank, and will take the total stock of bond purchases to £895bn.
Governor Andrew Bailey has said the Bank thinks quantitative easing is currently the most effective stimulus tool for the UK economy, despite negative interest rates being in the “toolbox” of possible measures.
Speaking in the Commons today, Sunak said he was in “constant communication” with Bailey, and that “our responses are carefully designed ti complement each other and provide certainty and support to people and businesses across the UK.”


cityam--2020-11-05--Take the edge off the US election with a bourbon cocktail

With the Presidential election still dragging on , you could be forgiven for having somewhat frayed nerves right now .
Will it be resolved with decisive-enough wins in the outstanding states ?
Will it end up in the courts ?
Will it lead to the death of democracy and civil conflict ?
Read more : How to write a lockdown novel – from a man who did just that As if 2020 was already stressful enough , without political uncertainty hanging over the world ’ s largest economy .
My advice is to lean into the spirit of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your mood , here are some bourbon cocktails to knock back while you wait for the results .
Seeking comfort in the stability of yesteryear ?
Why not try an Old Fashioned ?
Method : Place the sugar cube in Old Fashioned glass and drip on the bitters , add a splash of water , and muddle until dissolved .
Fill the glass with ice cubes and add the whiskey .
Garnish with a cocktail cherry and a slice of orange .
Read more : We ’ re shaken and stirred in 007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Place the whiskey , lemon juice , simple syrup , and egg white ( if using ) in a cocktail shaker .
Fill with ice , seal , and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds .
Strain into a rocks glass over ice .
Gently pour the wine over the back of a spoon , onto the surface of the cocktail , so that it forms a floating layer of red .
Want to get away from it all ?
Build a Paper Plane .
Method : Put all ingredients in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shake , then fine strain into a chilled coupe glass .
Garnish with a twist of lemon zest .
And if it ’ s all too much .
Just drink Maker ’ s Mark straight from the bottle ; currently available in a seasonally appropriate ugly Christmas jumper , which might raise your spirits .
• You can buy Maker ’ s Mark , Angostura Bitters and Amaro Nonino , and Aperol , from the Whisky Exchange .

Take the edge off the US election with a bourbon cocktail
An Old Fashioned mixed by th International Bartenders Association
With the Presidential election still dragging on, you could be forgiven for having somewhat frayed nerves right now.
Will it be resolved with decisive-enough wins in the outstanding states? Will it end up in the courts? Will it lead to the death of democracy and civil conflict?
As if 2020 was already stressful enough, without political uncertainty hanging over the world’s largest economy. My advice is to lean into the spirit of the American election with some American spirits. Whatever your mood, here are some bourbon cocktails to knock back while you wait for the results.
Seeking comfort in the stability of yesteryear? Why not try an Old Fashioned?
Ingredients: 60ml Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whiskey, 1 sugar cube, 2 dashes Angostura Bitters.
Method: Place the sugar cube in Old Fashioned glass and drip on the bitters, add a splash of water, and muddle until dissolved. Fill the glass with ice cubes and add the whiskey. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and a slice of orange.
Experiencing sour grapes? Have a New York Sour.
Ingredients: 60ml Maker’s Mark, 30ml lemon juice, 25ml simple syrup, 1 egg white (optional), 15ml of fruity red wine.
Method: Place the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, seal, and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Gently pour the wine over the back of a spoon, onto the surface of the cocktail, so that it forms a floating layer of red.
Want to get away from it all? Build a Paper Plane.
Ingredients: 30ml Maker’s Mark, 30ml amaro (traditionally Amaro Nonino Quintessentia), 30ml Aperol, 30ml lemon juice.
Method: Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, cover and shake, then fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.
And if it’s all too much. Just drink Maker’s Mark straight from the bottle; currently available in a seasonally appropriate ugly Christmas jumper, which might raise your spirits.
• You can buy Maker’s Mark, Angostura Bitters and Amaro Nonino, and Aperol, from the Whisky Exchange.


cityam--2020-11-05--Switch it up: Nintendo profit triples on lockdown gaming boom

Nintendo ’ s profit tripled in the six months to the end of September as consumers splashed out on gaming during the coronavirus lockdown .
The Japanese tech giant posted a first-half operating profit of 291.4bn yen ( £2.1bn ) , up from 94bn yen in the same period last year .
Read more : Facebook takes on Google and Amazon with cloud gaming launch Nintendo has enjoyed booming demand for its Switch consoles , with gamers flocking to favourites such as Animal Crossing : New Horizons .
The Kyoto-based firm said it expected to sell 24m Switch consoles in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from its previous forecast of 19m .
It also hiked its operating profit forecast by 50 per cent to 450bn yen .
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said production issues affecting the Switch earlier in the year had since been resolved , contributing to the increase in sales .
The Super Mario creator sold 12.5m consoles in the first half of the year , consisting of 8.4m hybrid models and 4.2m portable-only Switch Lite devices .
The positive outlook marks a departure from Nintendo ’ s conservative approach to forecasts .
The company has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warning the coronavirus-related spike in sales could be temporary .
But fresh lockdown measures across Europe mean the company may continue to enjoy higher sales over the winter period .
Furukawa said the Switch had continued to sell well in October , and played down concerns that the upcoming release of new Xbox and Playstation models could harm sales .

Switch it up: Nintendo profit triples on lockdown gaming boom
Nintendo’s success is largely down to the popularity of its Mario Kart and Animal Crossing games.
Nintendo’s profit tripled in the six months to the end of September as consumers splashed out on gaming during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Japanese tech giant posted a first-half operating profit of 291.4bn yen (£2.1bn), up from 94bn yen in the same period last year.
Nintendo has enjoyed booming demand for its Switch consoles, with gamers flocking to favourites such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
The Kyoto-based firm said it expected to sell 24m Switch consoles in the year to March 2021, up from its previous forecast of 19m. It also hiked its operating profit forecast by 50 per cent to 450bn yen.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said production issues affecting the Switch earlier in the year had since been resolved, contributing to the increase in sales.
The Super Mario creator sold 12.5m consoles in the first half of the year, consisting of 8.4m hybrid models and 4.2m portable-only Switch Lite devices.
The positive outlook marks a departure from Nintendo’s conservative approach to forecasts. The company has previously been reluctant to raise its expectations, warning the coronavirus-related spike in sales could be temporary.
But fresh lockdown measures across Europe mean the company may continue to enjoy higher sales over the winter period.
Furukawa said the Switch had continued to sell well in October, and played down concerns that the upcoming release of new Xbox and Playstation models could harm sales.


cityam--2020-11-05--London coronavirus cases falling in more than half of boroughs

Coronavirus cases are falling in more than half of London boroughs , according to official figures , as the capital begins to see the effects of the rule of six and orders to work from home .
Latest figures from Public Health England showed that cases of Covid-19 are falling in 19 out of 32 London boroughs , suggesting the virus is losing its grip across the city .
Read more : London pandemic update : How many Covid-19 infections are there in your local borough ?
Kingston upon Thames has seen the biggest drop in confirmed cases , recording @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 October — down 28 per cent on the previous week .
Kensington and Chelsea saw cases drop 21 per cent over the same period , with 53 new confirmed cases taking its rate of infection to 124.9 per 100,000 .
Ealing , which is currently the worst-affected borough in the capital , has seen new infections drop more than 16 per cent over the past week , recording 643 new cases .
However , the picture remains varied across London , with 13 boroughs recording a spike in infections .
Bexley and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections of more than 15 per cent in the week to the end of October .
The proportion of people testing positive out of those tested is believed to still be on the rise in around two thirds of London boroughs , and sinking in about a third of boroughs .
The positivity rate for the capital as a whole stands at around 7.7 per cent .
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the capital is “ seeing initial signs that the increase in infections across the capital has started to slow down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It comes after figures released last week by the Department of Health and Social Care showed London had the highest rate of infection in the whole country .
Research by Imperial College London and Ipsos Mori found that London ’ s ‘ R rate ’ — the rate of spread of infection — catapulted to a best estimate of 2.9 in the week to 25 October — the highest rate in England .
The capital will today join the rest of the country in a month-long national lockdown , which will see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants .
Read more : The Tories that voted for Christmas People will be told to stay at home at all times , except when leaving for school , college , university , medical appointments , essential work and food shopping .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday warned the country could suffer deaths “ on a grievous scale ” without fresh action , with hospitals set for “ extraordinary trouble ” next month .

London coronavirus cases falling in more than half of boroughs
A best case scenario could see 57,000 jobs in London saved
Coronavirus cases are falling in more than half of London boroughs, according to official figures, as the capital begins to see the effects of the rule of six and orders to work from home.
Latest figures from Public Health England showed that cases of Covid-19 are falling in 19 out of 32 London boroughs, suggesting the virus is losing its grip across the city.
Kingston upon Thames has seen the biggest drop in confirmed cases, recording 104 new infections in the week to 30 October — down 28 per cent on the previous week.
Kensington and Chelsea saw cases drop 21 per cent over the same period, with 53 new confirmed cases taking its rate of infection to 124.9 per 100,000.
Ealing, which is currently the worst-affected borough in the capital, has seen new infections drop more than 16 per cent over the past week, recording 643 new cases.
However, the picture remains varied across London, with 13 boroughs recording a spike in infections.
Bexley and Waltham Forest both recorded increases in new infections of more than 15 per cent in the week to the end of October.
The proportion of people testing positive out of those tested is believed to still be on the rise in around two thirds of London boroughs, and sinking in about a third of boroughs. The positivity rate for the capital as a whole stands at around 7.7 per cent.
London borough Change in number of infections
in week to 30 October (%) Barking and Dagenham +7.2 Barnet -13.3 Bexley +15.7 Brent -8.5 Bromley -13.2 Camden -18.1 Croydon +5.5 Ealing -16.4 Enfield -4.4 Greenwich +17.5 Hackney and City of London -16.8 Hammersmith and Fulham -8.5 Haringey -11.4 Harrow +0.3 Havering +21.9 Hillingdon +4.9 Hounslow -4.5 Islington -3.8 Kensington and Chelsea -21.4 Kingston upon Thames -28.3 Lambeth +6.8 Lewisham -2.2 Merton +8.2 Newham +3.7 Redbridge +1 Richmond upon Thames -10.9 Southwark -15.7 Sutton -3.3 Tower Hamlets -2.8 Waltham Forest +15.1 Wandsworth -15.4 Westminster +0.8 Source: Public Health England
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the capital is “seeing initial signs that the increase in infections across the capital has started to slow down”, the Evening Standard first reported.
It comes after figures released last week by the Department of Health and Social Care showed London had the highest rate of infection in the whole country.
Research by Imperial College London and Ipsos Mori found that London’s ‘R rate’ — the rate of spread of infection — catapulted to a best estimate of 2.9 in the week to 25 October — the highest rate in England.
The capital will today join the rest of the country in a month-long national lockdown, which will see the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants.
People will be told to stay at home at all times, except when leaving for school, college, university, medical appointments, essential work and food shopping.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday warned the country could suffer deaths “on a grievous scale” without fresh action, with hospitals set for “extraordinary trouble” next month.


cityam--2020-11-05--The definitive live sport TV guide you need to make it through lockdown 2

Lockdowns are rubbish , but lockdowns with a stacked sporting calendar to watch are slightly less rubbish .
And as England battens down the hatches until 3 December , at last sport fans have a feast of action to get us through .
The Masters , the Autumn Nations Cup , the ATP Tour Finals and an England cricket tour are among the treats coming up .
Read more : Why Jack Harrison , Patrick Bamford , Ezri Konsa and Karl Darlow deserve to be in the England squad Throw in mouth-watering football fixtures and Lewis Hamilton ’ s pursuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you ’ ll have little time for much else .
So read on to plan what to watch and where and when to watch it during Lockdown 2 .
Five months later than usual , Augusta will finally welcome golf ’ s great and good from 13-16 November .
Last year ’ s fairytale victory for Tiger Woods will take some topping .
But Bryson DeChambeau can make it back-to-back majors following his US Open win in September .
Watch live action from all four rounds on Sky Sports or catch highlights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the rugby calendar , but the silver lining is an exciting new tournament .
With the usual autumn international programme shelved for a year , Six Nations organisers stepped into the breach .
Georgia and Fiji are the teams joining the usual suspects for a four-week tournament that kicks off on Friday 13 November .
England ’ s first fixture , against Georgia , is on Saturday 14 November at 3pm .
Most games are being shown exclusively on Amazon Prime Video , with the rest on Channel 4 .
Teams face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final round , to be played on 5 and 6 December and shown on Amazon Prime Video .
A condensed 2020-21 season means barely a day goes by without some football to watch .
But here are the highlights , including champions Liverpool ’ s trip to Manchester City , of the next month .
England ’ s cricketers jet off to South Africa in November for two limited-overs series .
The first of three Twenty20 internationals is on the 27th , with the one-day series following in December .
Below are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Can ’ t wait for that ?
The Indian Premier League final is on Tuesday 10 November , live on Sky Sports .
London ’ s O2 hosts the ATP Finals for the last time ( for a while , anyway ) this year and , sadly , fans will be absent .
The tournament , set to feature Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal and the six other best-performing male players this year , is available to watch in full , however .
Round-robin matches start on Sunday 15 November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon Prime Video is showing it all , while the BBC2 has selected sessions , Lewis Hamilton is closing in on his seventh world title and can clinch it at the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday 15 November .
Hamilton will be confirmed as champion for the sixth time in seven years as long as team-mate Valtteri Bottas doesn ’ t beat him by more than seven points .
In the unlikely event he is made to wait , the Briton can wrap it up at in Bahrain on 29 November .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Absolutely .
Cycling fans can catch the conclusion to the Vuelta a Espana , which finishes on Sunday 8 November , on Eurosport .
And boxing , Kell Brook faces Terence Crawford in the early hours of 15 November , while British heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce clash on 28 November .

The definitive live sport TV guide you need to make it through lockdown 2
The Masters, won last year by Tiger Woods, is one of the sporting highlights of the next month, when the UK will be in lockdown again
Lockdowns are rubbish, but lockdowns with a stacked sporting calendar to watch are slightly less rubbish.
And as England battens down the hatches until 3 December, at last sport fans have a feast of action to get us through.
The Masters, the Autumn Nations Cup, the ATP Tour Finals and an England cricket tour are among the treats coming up.
Throw in mouth-watering football fixtures and Lewis Hamilton’s pursuit of another Formula 1 world title, and you’ll have little time for much else.
So read on to plan what to watch and where and when to watch it during Lockdown 2.
Golf: The Masters
Five months later than usual, Augusta will finally welcome golf’s great and good from 13-16 November.
Last year’s fairytale victory for Tiger Woods will take some topping. But Bryson DeChambeau can make it back-to-back majors following his US Open win in September.
Watch live action from all four rounds on Sky Sports or catch highlights on the BBC.
Rugby Union: Autumn Nations Cup
Coronavirus wreaked havoc on the rugby calendar, but the silver lining is an exciting new tournament.
With the usual autumn international programme shelved for a year, Six Nations organisers stepped into the breach.
Georgia and Fiji are the teams joining the usual suspects for a four-week tournament that kicks off on Friday 13 November.
England’s first fixture, against Georgia, is on Saturday 14 November at 3pm.
Most games are being shown exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, with the rest on Channel 4.
13 Nov: Ireland v Wales, Group A, 7pm, Channel 4
14 Nov: Italy v Scotland, Group B, 12.45pm, Amazon
14 Nov: England v Georgia, Group A, 3pm, Amazon
15 Nov: France v Fiji, Group B, KO TBC, Amazon
21 Nov: Italy v Fiji, Group B, 12.45pm, Amazon
21 Nov: England v Ireland, Group A, 3pm, Channel 4 and Amazon
21 Nov: Wales v Georgia, Group A, 5.15pm, Amazon
22 Nov: Scotland v France, Group B, 3pm, Amazon
28 Nov: Scotland v Fiji, Group B, 1.45pm, Amazon
28 Nov: Wales v England, Group A, 4pm, Amazon
28 Nov: France v Italy, Group B, 8pm, Amazon
29 Nov: Ireland v Georgia, Group A, 2pm, Channel 4
Teams face same-ranked opponents from the other group in the final round, to be played on 5 and 6 December and shown on Amazon Prime Video.
Football: Various, ongoing
A condensed 2020-21 season means barely a day goes by without some football to watch.
But here are the highlights, including champions Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City, of the next month.
Saturday 7 November: Everton v Manchester United, Premier League, 12:30pm, BT Sport
Sunday 8 November: Manchester City v Liverpool, Premier League, 4:30pm, Sky Sports
Sunday 15 November: Belgium v England, Nations League, 7:45pm, Sky Sports
Sunday 15 November: Arsenal v Chelsea, Women’s Super League, 2:30pm, BT Sport
Saturday 21 November: Tottenham v Man City, Premier League, 5:30pm, Sky Sports
Sunday 29 November: Chelsea v Tottenham, Premier League, 4:30pm, Sky Sports
Tuesday 1 December: Liverpool v Ajax, Champions League, 8pm, BT Sport
Wednesday 2 December: Manchester United v PSG, Champions League, 8pm, BT Sport
Cricket: England and IPL
England’s cricketers jet off to South Africa in November for two limited-overs series.
The first of three Twenty20 internationals is on the 27th, with the one-day series following in December.
Below are the T20 fixtures and how to watch them.
27 Nov: South Africa v England, 1st T20, Cape Town, 4pm, Sky Sports
29 Nov: South Africa v England, 2nd T20, Paarl, 13:30pm, Sky Sports
1 Dec: South Africa v England, 3rd T20, Cape Town, 4pm, Sky Sports
Can’t wait for that? The Indian Premier League final is on Tuesday 10 November, live on Sky Sports.
Tennis: ATP Finals
London’s O2 hosts the ATP Finals for the last time (for a while, anyway) this year and, sadly, fans will be absent.
The tournament, set to feature Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and the six other best-performing male players this year, is available to watch in full, however.
Round-robin matches start on Sunday 15 November, with the finals the following Sunday.
Amazon Prime Video is showing it all, while the BBC2 has selected sessions,
Formula 1: Turkish and Bahrain GPs
Lewis Hamilton is closing in on his seventh world title and can clinch it at the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday 15 November.
Hamilton will be confirmed as champion for the sixth time in seven years as long as team-mate Valtteri Bottas doesn’t beat him by more than seven points.
In the unlikely event he is made to wait, the Briton can wrap it up at in Bahrain on 29 November.
All races are live on Sky Sports.
Any other lockdown sport?
Absolutely. Cycling fans can catch the conclusion to the Vuelta a Espana, which finishes on Sunday 8 November, on Eurosport.
And boxing, Kell Brook faces Terence Crawford in the early hours of 15 November, while British heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce clash on 28 November.


cityam--2020-11-05--Airbnb to go public ‘as early as next week’

Airbnb is set to make its initial public offering ( IPO ) listing as early as next week , according to reports , as the home rental company attempts to cash in on investor wanderlust during the pandemic .
Airbnb has laid out plans to set an IPO price range in December , according to Reuters .
Read more : Party poopers : Airbnb to limit UK bookings for under-25s The firm last month suggested it was aiming to raise around $ 3bn ( £2.3bn ) from a stock market listing , with the hopes of achieving a valuation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions .
Airbnb last year said it intended to go public by the end of 2020 , raising hopes of an IPO blockbuster in an already booming year for public listings .
Warner Music Group , Palantir and Snowflake have all made their stock market debuts this year .
An IPO for the US home rentals firm would mark a dramatic recovery from earlier this year , when Airbnb secured $ 2bn of emergency funding from investors to help it weather the pandemic .
Bookings on the platform were down by more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus crisis , forcing Airbnb to cut 25 per cent of its workforce .
But the rentals firm has rapidly regained ground since March , following a summer boom that saw holidaymakers ditch hotels for home rentals as quarantine measures crippled the aviation industry .
The company said in July that customers had booked more than 1m nights in a single day for the first time since 3 March .
Read more : UK services sector ‘ close to stalling ’ as coronavirus cases surge Airbnb last month announced it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversee a redesign of the firm ’ s products and services .
Ive , who quit as Apple ’ s chief design officer last year , will also redesign Airbnb ’ s website and app , as the San Francisco firm looks to shrug off smaller rivals while the hospitality industry suffers during the pandemic .
Airbnb did not respond to City A.M ’ s request for comment .

Airbnb to go public ‘as early as next week’
Airbnb reportedly paid an Australian tourist $7m after she was raped by someone who gained a copy of keys to a rental apartment, in exchange for keeping quiet on who was to blame.
Airbnb is set to make its initial public offering (IPO) listing as early as next week, according to reports, as the home rental company attempts to cash in on investor wanderlust during the pandemic.
Airbnb has laid out plans to set an IPO price range in December, according to Reuters.
The firm last month suggested it was aiming to raise around $3bn (£2.3bn) from a stock market listing, with the hopes of achieving a valuation of more than $30bn subject to market conditions.
Airbnb last year said it intended to go public by the end of 2020, raising hopes of an IPO blockbuster in an already booming year for public listings.
Warner Music Group, Palantir and Snowflake have all made their stock market debuts this year.
An IPO for the US home rentals firm would mark a dramatic recovery from earlier this year, when Airbnb secured $2bn of emergency funding from investors to help it weather the pandemic.
Bookings on the platform were down by more than 80 per cent at its lowest point during the coronavirus crisis, forcing Airbnb to cut 25 per cent of its workforce.
But the rentals firm has rapidly regained ground since March, following a summer boom that saw holidaymakers ditch hotels for home rentals as quarantine measures crippled the aviation industry.
The company said in July that customers had booked more than 1m nights in a single day for the first time since 3 March.
Airbnb last month announced it had brought in Apple titan Jony Ive to oversee a redesign of the firm’s products and services.
Ive, who quit as Apple’s chief design officer last year, will also redesign Airbnb’s website and app, as the San Francisco firm looks to shrug off smaller rivals while the hospitality industry suffers during the pandemic.
Airbnb did not respond to City A.M’s request for comment.


cityam--2020-11-05--BT threatened with strike action over job cuts and pay

BT could be facing its first major strike action in more than 15 years after union members accused the company of “ putting profit before people ” .
The Communication Workers Union ( CWU ) today asked members to vote on whether to hold a strike ballot at the company over an “ increasingly aggressive ” approach by management across BT , Openreach and EE .
Read more : BT profit drops a fifth but telecoms giant boosts guidance The ballot papers will be dispatched later this month , with voting set to close on 10 December .
The potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company ’ s first national strike since 1994 , comes amid complaints about job security and pay .
BT is currently undergoing a major restructuring programme , cutting 13,000 jobs and shuttering offices in a bid to find £2bn in cost savings each year .
The FTSE 100 telecoms giant , which is led by Philip Jansen , said the moves were an essential part of BT ’ s modernisation plans , but CWU general secretary Dave Ward accused the company of pursuing profits at the expense of employees .
“ After decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing BT Group embark on a vicious programme of compulsory redundancies , site closures and attacks on pay , terms and conditions , ” he said .
“ If we stand by and let the company implement these changes without serious opposition , then the floodgates will open.
” A BT spokesperson said : “ BT is going through a period of immense change and investment for the future .
As the market continues to evolve and the needs of our customers change , we ’ ll need the right skills and capabilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This will result in a smaller number of people in the business in five years ’ time , largely by not filling roles as and when they become vacant , but we will prioritise providing retraining and reskilling , unlimited learning and redeployment opportunities where we can .
“ If we don ’ t improve our productivity and efficiency , BT Group will fall behind in the highly competitive , highly regulated markets in which we operate.
” Strike action would come as a major blow to BT , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of the pandemic .
The company last week said profit for the first half of the year had dropped 20 per cent , while revenue slipped eight per cent to £10.6bn .
Despite this , BT raised its earnings guidance for the full year to between £7.3bn and £7.5bn .

BT threatened with strike action over job cuts and pay
BT could be facing its first major strike action in more than 15 years after union members accused the company of “putting profit before people”.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) today asked members to vote on whether to hold a strike ballot at the company over an “increasingly aggressive” approach by management across BT, Openreach and EE.
The ballot papers will be dispatched later this month, with voting set to close on 10 December.
The potential industrial action, which would be the company’s first national strike since 1994, comes amid complaints about job security and pay.
BT is currently undergoing a major restructuring programme, cutting 13,000 jobs and shuttering offices in a bid to find £2bn in cost savings each year.
The FTSE 100 telecoms giant, which is led by Philip Jansen, said the moves were an essential part of BT’s modernisation plans, but CWU general secretary Dave Ward accused the company of pursuing profits at the expense of employees.
“After decades of industrial stability, we are now seeing BT Group embark on a vicious programme of compulsory redundancies, site closures and attacks on pay, terms and conditions,” he said.
“If we stand by and let the company implement these changes without serious opposition, then the floodgates will open.”
A BT spokesperson said: “BT is going through a period of immense change and investment for the future. As the market continues to evolve and the needs of our customers change, we’ll need the right skills and capabilities in the business to adapt and respond.
“This will result in a smaller number of people in the business in five years’ time, largely by not filling roles as and when they become vacant, but we will prioritise providing retraining and reskilling, unlimited learning and redeployment opportunities where we can.
“If we don’t improve our productivity and efficiency, BT Group will fall behind in the highly competitive, highly regulated markets in which we operate.”
Strike action would come as a major blow to BT, which has suffered a hit to revenue and profit as a result of the pandemic.
The company last week said profit for the first half of the year had dropped 20 per cent, while revenue slipped eight per cent to £10.6bn.
Despite this, BT raised its earnings guidance for the full year to between £7.3bn and £7.5bn.


cityam--2020-11-05--Covid19: Test and trace success rate stays near record low

An improvement in the country ’ s test and trace system is barely happening , according to new data out just now .
Of the 327,203 people identified as coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive between 22 October and 28 October , 59.9 % were reached and asked to self-isolate .
That ’ s only a minor improvement from the record low proportion of 59.6 % reported two weeks ago .
Read more : Breaking : Test and trace system reaches fewer than six in ten ‘ close contacts ’ Separately , positive Covid-19 cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous week , the country ’ s test and trace scheme said , but that ’ s slower that the previous week ’ s 23 % rise , The NHS test and trace programme , overseen by Tory peer and former TalkTalk chief Dido Harding has repeatedly come under fire for it poor success rate and growing cost .
Over the weekend it was revealed the NHS test and trace app was set at an incorrect sensitivity and missed sending out alerts to self isolate to people it should have .
This was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smartphones .
Read more : Government paying test and trace consultants equivalent of £1.5m salary

Covid19: Test and trace success rate stays near record low
The UK governments test and trace app launched on September 24, 2020 (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
An improvement in the country’s test and trace system is barely happening, according to new data out just now.
Of the 327,203 people identified as coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive between 22 October and 28 October, 59.9% were reached and asked to self-isolate.
That’s only a minor improvement from the record low proportion of 59.6% reported two weeks ago.
Separately, positive Covid-19 cases in England are up 8% on the previous week, the country’s test and trace scheme said, but that’s slower that the previous week’s 23% rise,
The NHS test and trace programme, overseen by Tory peer and former TalkTalk chief Dido Harding has repeatedly come under fire for it poor success rate and growing cost.
Over the weekend it was revealed the NHS test and trace app was set at an incorrect sensitivity and missed sending out alerts to self isolate to people it should have.
This was mainly a problem for those using Android smartphones.


cityam--2020-11-06--DEBATE: Did Chinese regulators have a legitimate reason for halting the IPO of Jack Ma’s Ant Group?

Did Chinese regulators have a legitimate reason for halting the IPO of Jack Ma ’ s Ant Group ?
Tim Focas , head of capital markets at Aspectus Group , says YES .
For any public listing , but in particular one of this magnitude , smart and sound regulation is of paramount importance .
It can ’ t be one rule for one firm looking to go public , and another rule for someone else .
From fintech firms to buccaneering entrepreneurs , regulation has to be consistent for everyone .
Regardless of whether this IPO eventually takes place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe need to work together more closely in order to come up with a pragmatic way forward .
There are important differences in the size and structure of global listings .
Some firms run on a sub-national basis , while the big institutions operate across multiple jurisdictions .
In some cases , certain criteria for listings can be uniform across the national exchanges , particularly when it comes to the major deals .
More dialogue between national regulators would allow for greater scope to adjust rules accordingly to accommodate any nuances around IPOs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach .
Read more : Sink or float : What ’ s next for Ant Group after China suspends world ’ s biggest IPO ?
Leon Emirali , an entrepreneur and adviser , says NO .
This is China , after all .
No doubt the powers-that-be will have cast a worried glance across the Pacific and seen the huge influence wielded by the likes of Bill Gates , Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg in the US .
Beijing will want to avoid the risk of losing even a modicum of power for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Having lived in China for a short period at the beginning of the last decade , I saw up close the innovation , graft and aspiration of Chinese entrepreneurs that propelled the country to economic super-power status .
Ten years later , and it ’ s clear that the state is ready and willing to stamp on the entrepreneurs that got them there .
This move sets a dangerous precedent that may lead to a substantial “ brain drain ” that sees Chinese businesspeople choose to set up elsewhere .
In the midst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to halt this IPO looks to be a myopic mistake .

DEBATE: Did Chinese regulators have a legitimate reason for halting the IPO of Jack Ma’s Ant Group?
The IPO of Ant Group was halted less than 48 hours before it was to begin trading in Shanghai and Hong Kong
Did Chinese regulators have a legitimate reason for halting the IPO of Jack Ma’s Ant Group?
Tim Focas, head of capital markets at Aspectus Group, says YES.
For any public listing, but in particular one of this magnitude, smart and sound regulation is of paramount importance. It can’t be one rule for one firm looking to go public, and another rule for someone else. From fintech firms to buccaneering entrepreneurs, regulation has to be consistent for everyone.
Regardless of whether this IPO eventually takes place or not, regulatory authorities across the globe need to work together more closely in order to come up with a pragmatic way forward.
There are important differences in the size and structure of global listings. Some firms run on a sub-national basis, while the big institutions operate across multiple jurisdictions. In some cases, certain criteria for listings can be uniform across the national exchanges, particularly when it comes to the major deals.
More dialogue between national regulators would allow for greater scope to adjust rules accordingly to accommodate any nuances around IPOs, removing the pitfalls of a one-authority-knows-best approach.
Leon Emirali, an entrepreneur and adviser, says NO.
This is China, after all. No doubt the powers-that-be will have cast a worried glance across the Pacific and seen the huge influence wielded by the likes of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg in the US. Beijing will want to avoid the risk of losing even a modicum of power for the ruling party and Xi Jinping.
Having lived in China for a short period at the beginning of the last decade, I saw up close the innovation, graft and aspiration of Chinese entrepreneurs that propelled the country to economic super-power status. Ten years later, and it’s clear that the state is ready and willing to stamp on the entrepreneurs that got them there.
This move sets a dangerous precedent that may lead to a substantial “brain drain” that sees Chinese businesspeople choose to set up elsewhere. In the midst of a bitter trade war, China’s decision to halt this IPO looks to be a myopic mistake.
Main image credit: Getty


cityam--2020-11-06--Trump falsely claims victory and fraud in speech as Biden votes roll in

Donald Trump has falsely claimed victory and claimed his opponent Joe Biden has committed widespread voter fraud in an historic speech .
Trump made a series of baseless claims during the speech and falsely claimed he had won the election .
“ The Republican party is now the party of the people and the party of inclusion , ” he said .
“ The phony polls were designed to keep our voters at home and make it seem as though we had no momentum .
They were suppression polls.
” He added : “ The voting apparatus in all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are run by Democrats .
They would not allow observers in and in some places said we had to stay at least 100 feet away.
” The election will very likely soon called for Biden , despite the President ’ s protestations .
He only needs to hold the states he leads in to win , however he is also closing the ground in states he trails – Pennsylvania and and Georgia .
The Trump camp had launched a bevy of legal challenges in closely contested states , however they have not produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim .

Trump falsely claims victory and fraud in speech as Biden votes roll in
Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning U.S. investments in Chinese firms that Washington says are owned or controlled by the Chinese military.
Donald Trump has falsely claimed victory and claimed his opponent Joe Biden has committed widespread voter fraud in an historic speech.
Trump made a series of baseless claims during the speech and falsely claimed he had won the election, despite being on the cusp of losing to Biden.
“You count the illegal votes they try to steal the election from us, you try to count the votes that came in late, we’re looking at them very strongly,” he said.
“I’ve already decisively one many critical states, including massive victories in Florida, Iow, Indiana, Ohio to name just a few…despite election interference from big media, big money and big tech.”
Trump has for months questioned the validity of mail-in voting, despite it being a completely legal and above board way to vote.
“The Republican party is now the party of the people and the party of inclusion,” he said.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
“The phony polls were designed to keep our voters at home and make it seem as though we had no momentum. They were suppression polls.”
He added: “The voting apparatus in all the key states that are left to declare are run by Democrats. They would not allow observers in and in some places said we had to stay at least 100 feet away.”
The election will very likely soon called for Biden, despite the President’s protestations.
He only needs to hold the states he leads in to win, however he is also closing the ground in states he trails – Pennsylvania and and Georgia.
The Trump camp has launched a bevy of legal challenges in closely contested states, however they have not produced evidence that shows the widespread fraud they claim.


cityam--2020-11-05--Building business resilience for a better future

The standout figure from EY ’ s latest profit warning analysis is the 34 % of companies that have issued a profit warning in the first nine months of 2020 .
That ’ s over a third of companies that have materially downgraded their earnings forecasts at least once , compared with 23 % in the whole of 2001 and 18 % in 2008 .
Many of 2020 ’ s profit warnings were unavoidable .
Being unable to operate due to a sudden pandemic-driven lockdown isn ’ t a forecasting or operational failure .
It isn ’ t something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against .
But companies can and must act now to reshape their business to these new realities .
Businesses with resilience and agility will be in the best position to survive short-term shocks and thrive during long periods of uncertainty .
The pandemic is an exceptional event , but it ’ s not a short-term or isolated challenge .
If we look back at 2019 , companies were already issuing profit warnings at 2008-like levels .
The economy was growing , but companies were struggling to adapt to challenges on multiple horizons .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty , deep structural changes were occurring across many sectors , driven by technology and changing attitudes and behaviour .
These pressures haven ’ t disappeared .
In many cases the pandemic has accelerated trends and its challenges have converged with existing issues .
Changing COVID-19 restrictions , Brexit uncertainty and changing patterns of consumer demand are combining to present an immense planning and forecasting challenge .
Many companies are facing cashflow pressures from increased operating costs and the unwinding of government support whilst also facing the need to build inventory ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not afford to wait for UK-EU deal clarity If we look at the sectors with the highest number of warnings – and the highest level of multiple profit warnings – we see that they include sectors hit hardest by the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions , but also those sectors that were already struggling with high fixed costs , overcapacity and disruptive entrants .
It would be a mistake , however , to just focus on the most distressed companies or sectors .
Even companies that were essentially sound just before the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ models and make tough choices .
Moreover , as many CEOs have noted in recent months , their companies are also only as strong as the weakest supply chain link .
Which is why I feel there has never been a greater imperative for companies to build resilience to shocks and the agility to meet the growing challenges of uncertainty and rapid change .
To do this , they need the information and ability to take and enact decisions at speed .
Many companies will need to rethink their operating models and cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how to deploy their capital .
Read more : How businesses can respond to critical situations to recover and preserve value for a better future As economies and societies reshape , so must business , whilst keeping a clear understanding of their core purpose and their position in society .
The UK economy was increasingly policy-driven before the pandemic , but COVID-19 has significantly amplified government influence and policy is often the difference between the companies that thrive , survive or muddle through – something we ’ ll be exploring in more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out more about our profit warning data and 20 years of EY analysis , visit : ey.com/warnings

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Building business resilience for a better future
In many cases the pandemic has accelerated trends and its challenges have converged with existing issues.
The standout figure from EY’s latest profit warning analysis is the 34% of companies that have issued a profit warning in the first nine months of 2020. That’s over a third of companies that have materially downgraded their earnings forecasts at least once, compared with 23% in the whole of 2001 and 18% in 2008.
Many of 2020’s profit warnings were unavoidable. Being unable to operate due to a sudden pandemic-driven lockdown isn’t a forecasting or operational failure. It isn’t something that companies could have easily predicted or mitigated against. But companies can and must act now to reshape their business to these new realities. Businesses with resilience and agility will be in the best position to survive short-term shocks and thrive during long periods of uncertainty.
The pandemic is an exceptional event, but it’s not a short-term or isolated challenge. If we look back at 2019, companies were already issuing profit warnings at 2008-like levels. The economy was growing, but companies were struggling to adapt to challenges on multiple horizons. As well as Brexit and wider geopolitical uncertainty, deep structural changes were occurring across many sectors, driven by technology and changing attitudes and behaviour.
Read more: COVID-19 has changed investors’ priorities but UK attractiveness remains resilient
These pressures haven’t disappeared. In many cases the pandemic has accelerated trends and its challenges have converged with existing issues. Changing COVID-19 restrictions, Brexit uncertainty and changing patterns of consumer demand are combining to present an immense planning and forecasting challenge. Many companies are facing cashflow pressures from increased operating costs and the unwinding of government support whilst also facing the need to build inventory ahead of Brexit.
Read more: Brexit: No-regrets actions before the end of the transition period
If we look at the sectors with the highest number of warnings – and the highest level of multiple profit warnings – we see that they include sectors hit hardest by the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions, but also those sectors that were already struggling with high fixed costs, overcapacity and disruptive entrants.
It would be a mistake, however, to just focus on the most distressed companies or sectors. Even companies that were essentially sound just before the pandemic have been forced to rethink their business models and make tough choices. Moreover, as many CEOs have noted in recent months, their companies are also only as strong as the weakest supply chain link.
Which is why I feel there has never been a greater imperative for companies to build resilience to shocks and the agility to meet the growing challenges of uncertainty and rapid change. To do this, they need the information and ability to take and enact decisions at speed. Many companies will need to rethink their operating models and cost bases and take difficult decisions around where and how to deploy their capital.
Read more: COVID-19, the perfect storm for women: Work, trade and immigration
As economies and societies reshape, so must business, whilst keeping a clear understanding of their core purpose and their position in society. The UK economy was increasingly policy-driven before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has significantly amplified government influence and policy is often the difference between the companies that thrive, survive or muddle through – something we’ll be exploring in more detail in the coming weeks.
To find out more about our profit warning data and 20 years of EY analysis, visit: ey.com/warnings