As the Covid-19 crisis erupted, few would have predicted that central banks would end up front of stage. The ongoing volatility on financial markets has given them a key role. In his third day as Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey displayed the assertiveness which he never quite discovered in his previous job … Read more
Alex Jones presented The One Show alone in the studio on Wednesday, after co-host Matt Baker went into self-isolation for two weeks. The presenter, 43, appeared in good spirits as she hosted the show by herself, and was seen with comedian Chris Addison and members of RAF team The Red Arrows. Alex put on a … Read more
Retail never leaves the spotlight at present. The coronavirus always was going to highlight the corporate blunders of the past. Dixons Carphone is doubtless speaking the truth when it says that its ruthless decision to close all 531 Carphone stores was not virus-related. But one has to ask whether chief executive Alex Baldock would have … Read more
The current crash on financial markets feels very different to those of the past. Even though the fallout for ordinary citizens from the 2008 banking crisis devastated incomes, it was not a matter of life and death in the Western democracies. Social safety nets, and the fact that most who live in developed countries enjoy … Read more
Andrew Bailey’s first day as governor of the Bank of England saw a promise of ‘prompt action’ to deal with the financial fallout from the Covid-19 crisis. His pledge is a fresh signal that all is not well with the global monetary plumbing. The American central bank, the Federal Reserve, has intervened twice since last … Read more