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Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.
UK
- Covid-19 cases are once again making headline news in the UK today with the NHS Confederation calling for the government to implement its Plan B strategy. This would involve enforcing the wearing of masks in crowded areas as well as potentially reintroducing the guidance to work from home if possible.
- Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said this morning that it was not yet time for Plan B and a press conference has been scheduled with Health Secretary Sajid Javid for 17:00BST today.
- Javid is expected to urge those not yet vaccinated to get jabbed and those eligible for boosters to book an appointment. He is also likely to continue to recommend (but not enforce) the use of mask wearing.
- The charts below show the weekly sum of Covid-19 cases against the weekly sum of hospital admissions. Codi-19 cases are now around 75% of the peak seen at the turn of the year. However, hospital admissions are only less than 20% of that peak. It seems the government will not be willing to enforce Plan B until there is a much larger spike in admissions (potentially combined with a spike in influenza admissions).
- From a market perspective, wearing masks has very little economic impact while more people working from home is unlikely to have huge consequences (given a lot of people are still not back to the office full time). So it is unlikely that if Plan B is implemented it would have big implications for the Bank of England's monetary policy. Another lockdown (which for now at least seems unlikely) would be a potentially different story.
Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.
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