FTSE 100 lower as Super Saturday approaches

Headlines from the Proactive UK newsroom.

The FTSE 100 was lower as the excitement of pubs reopening tomorrow and yesterday’s US jobs numbers failed to translate into market gains. The index was 24 points lower at 6,216.

Tomorrow is “Super Saturday” when after more than three months in lockdown to tackle coronavirus, pubs and restaurants can reopen. Restrictions will still apply and customers will be asked for names and contact details in the event they need to be contacted by the test and trace programme.

Visitors from more than 50 countries will also not have to quarantine when they arrive in the UK from 10 July, the Department for Transport has confirmed. A full list of exempt countries will be published later.

It’s all come too late for Arena Events (). The temporary seating group says cancellations of Wimbledon and The Open golf championship, will mean lost revenues of £110mln adding it was a “seismic change” for the company.

 (), by contrast continues to thrive. The spreadbetter said trading activity recently was around double the level seen in the corresponding quarter of 2019 and profits are well above expectations.

PLC () has collected only 60% of the rent due for the June quarter but is seeing office occupancy recover as coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease. The FTSE100-listed firm also said it will resume dividend payments following the group’s interim results in November.

 () has completed work on its Onsite ID product having slowed progress to develop, pilot and launch the Cov-ID coronavirus passport app.