UK probes Nvidia’s Arm deal; workers split over return to office – as it happened
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
- Latest: Government issues intervention notice over Nvidia-Arm Holdings deal
- Nvidia is buying Arm from SoftBank for $40bn
- Taskforce on Bank of England digital currency launched
- Introduction: Investors upbeat, but fear of the office' hits some workers
- Deloitte: One in four want to WFH forever
6.45pm BST
Time to wrap up
The UK has ordered a probe into the sale of chip designer Arm by SoftBank to Nvidia, citing concerns over national security. Digital secretary Oliver Dowden issued an intervention notice, saying:
As a next step and to help me gather the relevant information, the UK's independent competition authority will now prepare a report on the implications of the transaction, which will help inform any further decisions.
We want to support our thriving UK tech industry and welcome foreign investment, but it is appropriate that we properly consider the national security implications of a transaction like this."
Related: UK government orders investigation into Nvidia's $40bn Arm takeover
Amongst Brits that now work from home, this trend is more prevalent among those who have previously tested positive for Covid-19, with only 34% planning on returning to the office. This compares to 69% of those who haven't suffered from the virus.
The data highlights that despite the potential for continued immunity, those who have experienced Covid-19 are more reluctant to return to work face-to-face.
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Related: EU reflecting' on conflict of interest rules after BlackRock controversy
6.28pm BST
The EU is considering introducing new conflict of interest rules after it was criticised for hiring BlackRock, a major manager of oil company and financial shares, to work on new environmental rules for banks.
The European ombudsman found in November found that the European commission, the EU's executive arm, had not properly considered conflicts of interest when awarding the contract to BlackRock, the world's biggest investor.
Related: EU reflecting' on conflict of interest rules after BlackRock controversy
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