The week begins with the release of flash purchasing managers’ index data that will give investors the clearest indication of how hard the second wave of coronavirus infections and lockdowns have hit business activity across Europe.
Policymakers are preparing to relax Covid-19 lockdowns as the restrictions implemented at the end of October throughout Europe are starting to yield results, with a slowdown in new infections recorded in most countries.
This is fuelling calls from retailers to end the mandatory closures of shops deemed non-essential during the most lucrative trading month of the year.
UK prime minister Boris Johnson is on Monday expected to outline his plan for what happens after England’s nationwide lockdown expires on December 2. Mass testing is expected to play a big role to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic.
The UK has no Budget this autumn, instead Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, will be in the spotlight this Wednesday when he presents the…