The delay in easing lockdown restrictions in England from 21 June to 19 July has caused consternation among many business sectors, but if the stock market’s reaction to the news is anything to go by, it doesn’t matter much to the UK’s listed companies.

Both the FTSE 100 and more domestically-focused FTSE 250 shrugged off the news.

The delay had been widely expected, with the announcement from prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening seen almost as a formality.

The live event and night-time economy sectors are the ones that are most affected, and these aren’t represented on the stock market in any significant way.

Shares in the likes of pub group Marstons (MARS) and Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group (RTN) were broadly unmoved following the announcement, with the likelihood of a delay already priced in.

One area which has taken a hit is travel stocks, with shares in British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) and budget airline EasyJet (EZJ) falling. Several countries have tightened restrictions on incoming visitors from the UK recently.

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