Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists begin prisoner swap

KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have started a prisoner swap, the office of Ukrainian president said on Thursday.

It is the first swap in 2020 and Ukraine will take back 19 its citizens, the president’s office said in a statement.

The conflict that broke out in 2014 killed more than 13,000 people, left a large swathe of Ukraine de facto controlled by the separatists and aggravated the deepest east-west rift since the Cold War.

UK to keep some social distancing until vaccine available: Epidemiologist

LONDON (REUTERS) – Britain will probably have to maintain some level of social distancing until a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is available, Neil Ferguson, a professor who has helped shape the government’s response to the pandemic, said on Thursday (April 16).

“We will have to maintain some level of social distancing, a significant level of social distancing, probably indefinitely until we have a vaccine available,” Ferguson told BBC radio.

IMF boss says UK should seek longer Brexit transition

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) – Britain should ask for an extension to its post-Brexit transition period to ease uncertainty at a time when the world economy is being hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the International Monetary Fund said.

“It is tough as it is. Let’s not make it any tougher,” Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, told BBC radio in comments broadcast on Thursday.

“My advice would be to seek ways in which this element of uncertainty is reduced in the interests of everybody, of the UK, of the EU, the whole world.”

Coronavirus forces Google to slow hiring

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Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has told staff that the company is slowing hiring for the rest of the year as the global economy is battered by the coronavirus.

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The details went out to employees from a company memo reported by Seeking Alpha.

At this point, Alphabet and Google hasn't announced job cuts.

Contractors in its offices will have wages and benefits covered for a certain period.

JOBLESS CLAIMS TO MAGNIFY CORONAVIRUS DAMAGE TO US ECONOMY

"Just like the 2008 financial crisis, the entire global economy is hurting, and Google and Alphabet are not immune to the effects of this global pandemic," Pichai said in a staff memo.

The company plans to prioritize hiring employees who address its business needs.

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The coronavirus has hit the retail and travel sectors hard, both of which are major Google advertisers, according to Bloomberg.

Stock Alert: Citrix Systems Benefiting During Covid-19 Pandemic

Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS)is one of the few companies whose shares are zooming while the new coronavirus is gripping the world. The stock has gained more than 40% in the recent months. It recorded a 52-week high of $150.33 on April 6.

The fact that Citrix’s digital workspace technology allows people to work in remote places with high level security has benefited the company. During the Covid-19 pandemic many companies are forced to let their employees work from home, is paying off for Citrix.

A research done by OnePoll on behalf of Citrix Systems showed that many organizations are adapting to work-from-home and the change will continue as a way of getting work done.

Citrix solutions are in use by more than 400,000 organizations including 98 percent of the Fortune 500.

Looking forward to first quarter, the company expects adjusted earnings of $1.15 to $1.20 on revenue of $730 million to $740 million. On average, 16 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters are expecting earnings of $1.17 per share on revenue of $733.57 for the quarter.

Citrix expects to report its first-quarter financial results on Thursday, April 23.

EasyJet To Report Narrower H1 Headline Loss Before Tax; Total Revenue Up 1.6%

easyJet Plc (ESYJY.PK,EZJ.L) said the Group expects first half headline loss before tax to be in the range of 185 million pounds to 205 million pounds. This is an improved first half headline loss before tax compared to 275 million pounds, prior year. easyJet projects first half reported loss before tax to be in the range of 360 million pounds to 380 million pounds, including the impact in relation to the over-hedging of fuel and FX.

For the six months ending 31 March 2020, total revenue increased by 1.6% to 2.38 billion pounds, with seat capacity decreasing by 7.6% to 42.7 million.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO said: “Our first half trading performance was very strong prior to the impact of coronavirus, which shows the strength of easyJet’s business model.”

Stock Alert: Citrix Systems Benefiting During Covid-19 Pandemic

Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS)is one of the few companies whose shares are zooming while the new coronavirus is gripping the world. The stock has gained more than 40% in the recent months. It recorded a 52-week high of $150.33 on April 6.

The fact that Citrix’s digital workspace technology allows people to work in remote places with high level security has benefited the company. During the Covid-19 pandemic many companies are forced to let their employees work from home, is paying off for Citrix.

A research done by OnePoll on behalf of Citrix Systems showed that many organizations are adapting to work-from-home and the change will continue as a way of getting work done.

Citrix solutions are in use by more than 400,000 organizations including 98 percent of the Fortune 500.

Looking forward to first quarter, the company expects adjusted earnings of $1.15 to $1.20 on revenue of $730 million to $740 million. On average, 16 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters are expecting earnings of $1.17 per share on revenue of $733.57 for the quarter.

Citrix expects to report its first-quarter financial results on Thursday, April 23.