Refinitiv Newscasts - UK Day Ahead: British PM warns lockdown 'won't end with a bang', Mitchells & Butlers, EZ Retail Sales
06/01/2021 15:31
Click the following link to watch video: https://share.newscasts.refinitiv.com/link?entryId=1_laptyght&referenceId=1_laptyght&pageId=RefinitivNewscasts Source: Reuters Description: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of an extended lockdown in England and says it won't 'end with a bang' ahead of a vote later. Mitchells & Butlers updates investors on trading. Plus, look out for retail sales, inflation and construction figures from the euro zone. Short Link: https://refini.tv/2XhI882 Video Transcript: Good afternoon. I'm Angeline Ong, and welcome to your wrap up of the day's top news and an insight into what's coming up on Thursday. Now, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of an extended lockdown in England and says it will not end with a bang. He told MPs the lockdown law will remain enforced until the end of March and that easing will take place on a region-by-region basis. Lawmakers will vote later on the day on whether to accept the new arrangements, but they're likely to pass with ease. The legislation this House will vote on later today runs until the 31st of March, not because we expect a full national lockdown to continue until then but to allow a steady, controlled, and evidence-led move down through the tiers on a regional basis, carefully brick by brick as it were breaking free of our confinement but without risking the hard-won gains that our protections have given us. Now, European stocks rising in late trade. Economically-sensitive sectors, such as energy and banks, leading the gains as investors brace for a Democratic win in crucial US Senate runoff election in Georgia that could drive bigger fiscal stimulus. A look at the board there, and the FTSE, the DAX, the CAC, and the STOXX 600 all higher there as we speak. And we could get more of an idea of how the pandemic affected trade over the Christmas period. What is clear is that retailers and services that have been successful at adapting quickly online during the pandemic have done well. And those that have not have struggled. Even with the support that's being rolled out by the government, it may not be enough as England and Europe go back into lockdown to curb the fast-spreading new strain of the coronavirus. And even prior to the most recent measures, UK pub operators have cut jobs and suffered millions in financial losses last year. Mitchells & Butlers unveils its trading update on Thursday, the same day when we get UK services PMI data and ONS fast indicators. Now, from the Eurozone, look out for retail sales, inflation, and construction figures. And WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, has been denied bail. A British judge said there was a risk he might flee justice while the United States tries again to secure his extradition. WikiLeaks said it would appeal against the denial of bail. And finally, images from Bulgaria of dozens of men marking the Christian holiday of Epiphany. They sang in the cold waters of the Tundzha, ignoring the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Despite calls from the authorities to cancel the celebration, around 70 men from the Kalofer took part in the ritual. By tradition, Orthodox priests would cast a crucifix into the waters of a lake or river and it's believed that the person who retrieves it will be free from evil spirits and will be healthy through the year. And that's it for now. I'm Angeline Ong, and this is Reuters