Royal Mail is facing a pivotal year. Boss Rico Back is trying to roll out modern technology and shift its business model towards parcels, as the number of letters being sent continues to decline.

It has been a rollercoaster ride for investors over the past few weeks as stock markets have felt the financial effects of coronavirus.

At a Christie's auction in London in November a Hermès bag, a rare matte white Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 30, sold for a whopping £125,000. The estimated price was £60,000 to £80,000.

Ahead of International Women's Day tomorrow, the FTSE 100 welcomed its sixth female chief executive this week as Milena Mondini de Focatiis was named new boss of insurance group Admiral.

Millions of small shareholders could be given more power to block takeovers and challenge fat-cat pay at Britain's biggest firms under a major shake-up later this year.

S.C. writes: I am sending you a request for information I received from Barclays Smart Investor and I wonder whether you find it as offensive as I do.

These are difficult days. At times, it feels like the world is shuddering to a halt. There are fewer people as I wind my way to and from work every day and night on public transport.

Market panics and emergency measures like a 0.5% rate cut in the US could be a sign of things to come, and may drive the gold price above its all-time peak of $1,900 in summer 2011.

The firm says it is concentrating staff between 8am and 5pm on weekdays. The firm's lines were previously open until 7pm on weekdays and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.

A balanced portfolio has a mix of assets, all of which perform differently at varying stages of the economic cycle. All investors should ensure a good mix.

Some people will disapprove of the idea of making money from this struggle. But investors have been snapping up shares in businesses developing vaccines or tests.

The board of the trust served a notice of termination to Invesco and Barnett 'following an extended period of underperformance', in a further blow to the manager.

While mini-bonds are not normally protected, B&G used a regulated company to drum up clients and raise money, which means investors who poured money in that way could be entitled to a payout.

Uncertainty may be the new normal. But investors would still like to know whether share prices are close to their lows, or if there is worse to come. The answer is: it's complicated.

The board of the £509million Temple Bar investment trust has served notice to its manager Ninety One, after portfolio manager Alastair Mundy stepped down for health reasons.

Some sectors look good value for investors, while others will be best avoided.

It under-performs in rising markets while outperforming when equity prices are sliding. It's an investment modus operandi that has stood up reasonably well to recent stock market stresses.

Royal Mail employees have kept services operating in the midst of a crisis. So it is surprising Back has chosen, since the shutdown began on March 23, to hunker down with his family abroad.

Far be it for me to comment on the US's medical response to the coronavirus, but amid these failings the US does appear to have managed the business piece remarkably well.

To make matters easier for the lenders, the Bank of England has already released counter-cyclical buffers to prepare for current loan demand.

ITV's chief exec Carolyn McCall has done the right things to limit the scarring. Some 800 workers have been furloughed, the dividend and executive pay have been cut and costs severely pruned.

By unhappy coincidence, the anniversary of the most rapturous day in British history, victory in the war against Nazi evil, comes amid a dismal historic message from the Bank of England.

With clubs exploring different ways to freshen up squads amid the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Barca and Spurs are looking into a swap deal for the two midfielders.

The 37-year-old has been the figurehead of BT Sport's coverage of the Scottish game for eight years and their impact has been akin to the Glasgow kiss of the city that produced him.

Rakitic has been a key part of Barca's success since joining the club from Sevilla in 2014 but has been relegated to a supporting role this season after losing his place to Frenkie De Jong.

During the coronavirus pandemic Spurs have walked into one PR gaffe after another ranging from cutting non-playing staff pay, to multiple training sessions breaking social distancing rules.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas says he has not interest in ever coaching in the Premier League again as it doesn't fit his style of management.

It has been six weeks since the Premier League came to an abrupt halt but now Spurs have been given the green light to resume training again - as long as they adhere to social distancing rules.

Dimitar Berbatov has heaped praise on Manchester United striker Anthony Martial, speaking highly of the 'unbelievable' talent he saw when they were together at Monaco. 

Origi and Alexander-Arnold combined to put Barcelona to the sword in last year's Champions League semi-final second leg at Anfield last year, overturning a three-goal deficit.

Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo (in picture) says he has no intention of leaving the club for Tottenham or Juventus. The talented Brazilian has been discussed by Spurs and the Italian champions.

The £54million signing from Lyon is unsettled at Spurs and is open to discussing a move to Barcelona this summer. The Catalan side would prefer to offer players in exchange for him.

England defender Kieran Trippier is facing a lengthy ban and a fine after being charged by the Football Association with breaching betting rules.

Son isn't the first footballer to serve his country. Sportsmail has looked at some of the other stars to have swapped the pitch for the army barracks or helped their country in some capacity.

The French midfielder joined the north London club last summer in a £65million move from Lyon, but has massively failed to deliver on the overwhelming expectation heaped on his shoulders.

It was the game former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg revealed 'was by far the hardest match' he ever had to officiate - the Battle of the Bridge on this day four years ago.

The Barcelona star enters the final year of his contract at the Nou Camp this summer and the Spanish side are keen to recoup a transfer fee for him to help ease their financial concerns.

The Bosnian midfielder is keen on the move from Turin to the Nou Camp once the summer transfer window opens but any deal involves Brazilian Arthur agreeing to join Juventus.

Barcelona are reportedly interested in young Polish star Michal Karbownik, but may face opposition from a number of clubs from his signature. The 19-year-old currently plays for Legia Warsaw.

Ndombele, Tottenham's record signing for £54million, appears ready to try and make the most of his time in north London and prove his critics wrong according to the Telegraph .

In May 2016, a 2-2 draw between the Blues and Spurs at Stamford Bridge, with Eden Hazard scoring a late equaliser, handed the Premier League title to Leicester City after an ill-tempered affair.

Despite announcing that his 'ambition was to stay at the club next season' earlier this week, PSG are intent on allowing Meunier's deal to run it's course, according to Le Parisien.

Levy made the trip to Van Gaal's house in Noordwijk to try and persuade the Dutchman to replace Tim Sherwood shortly after firing him in May 2014 but wanted to keep negotiations under wraps.

PETER CROUCH: This week, Crouch reveals which Tottenham star openly admitted to having no interest in football, and how Jamie Carragher was left speechless by Craig Bellamy.

Lloyds Banking Group shares leapt almost 13 per cent on hopes of a Brexit deal, but that was a rare bit of sunshine in an overwhelmingly gloomy year. So are UK banks a value opportunity?

Today’s Autumn Statement has brought the anticipated bad news for travellers, with the Chancellor unveiling the expected rise in the controversial Air Passenger Duty (APD).

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility admitted it expects a £400million shortfall in the Government's coffers, after predicting the bank levy would raise £2.2billion in March's Budget.

George Osborne hoisted an 'Open for Business' sign over Britain with a multi-billion pound package to help firms fight back against the slump at home and the troubles in the eurozone.

George Osborne targeted workers at the top, middle and bottom of the financial heap in his Autumn statement yesterday with a raft of money-saving measures.

Pensions minister Steve Webb (pictured) warned the state of the public finances meant 'difficult decisions' had to be taken, and challenged Labour to back them.