As prime minister Boris Johnson laid out a timetable for reopening the UK economy after the latest Covid-19 lockdown, several retail-focused real estate investors were among the day’s best-performing stocks.
The day’s biggest property rise was seen by NewRiver REIT, up by almost 10% to 96.2p a share, its highest level since before the UK’s first lockdown last March. Capital & Regional gained 5.3% at 63.2p, while Hammerson was up by 4.5% at 21.59p.
In the FTSE 350, the day’s biggest gains were posted by cinema operator Cineworld, travel company Tui, casino owner Rank Group and pub group Wetherspoon.
The government announced today that it aims to start lifting restrictions on 8 March with the reopening of schools as well as outdoor sport and leisure facilities.
From mid-April it will consider reopening all retail, indoor leisure and outdoor hospitality. Indoor entertainment and hospitality, as well as some large outdoors events, could restart from mid-May, with nightclubs potentially open from late June.
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