Critics of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme have urged Rishi Sunak to increase the guarantee from the current level of 80 per cent to 100 per cent.

The closely-watched Markit/CIPS Flash UK Composite Purchasing Managers' Index fell to a new record low of 12.9 - down precipitously from an already low reading 36 in March.

Experts at Barclays have speculated that the supermarket chain could be forced to 'inject capital' into Sainsbury's Bank.

With oil prices tumbling, investors will be glued to the first-quarter results due out from BP and Shell on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

Ashley's chains, which include Sports Direct and House of Fraser, have been forced to close amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and are in arrears to suppliers.

The Investment Association said firms will need 'to take account of their individual circumstances particularly considering the impact on their stakeholders' when deciding executive pay.

The German sportswear firm warned its sales would slump 40 per cent in the second quarter despite China emerging from lockdown, and surging performance online.

James Benamor says Amigo was committing 'slow-motion suicide' by making 'irresponsible' loans and failing to alert shareholders to the potential cost of complaints.

Just a day after arch-rival Airbus said it was 'bleeding cash' and may not survive, Boeing boss David Calhoun said: 'It is difficult to estimate when the situation will stabilise.'

Many had been worried BP would have to cut or axe the payout after oil prices began tanking in late January. But the energy giant has raised the amount it will give to shareholders.

Bosses at the company's owner, Barings Asia, are withholding the severance payment. Instead staff have been been told to apply for government handouts.

The group, which has scrapped its dividend for shareholders and furloughed 16,500 staff, saw its share price jump over 19 per cent earlier today.

While the group got off to a strong start this year, social distancing, Government lockdown interventions and economic uncertainty have started to take their toll.

On another bleak day for the sector, Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury predicted it could take 'three to five years' for passengers to be as willing to fly as before the crisis.

Shareholders are to receive around a two-thirds cut in their dividend payments covering the last three months of 2019, from 47 cents per share to 16 cents.

Just days after British Airways warned of 12,000 job cuts, business only expect to recover slowly as workers and consumers stay home and social distancing measures are put in place.

Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, has been closed since March 24 as part of a government clampdown, requiring people to stay indoors to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

As the economic toll of lockdown starts to rear its ugly head, employment, new orders and output in the sector fell at the fastest pace for 28 years last month.

Sam Fischer spent £479,000 exercising options to buy 28,000 shares at 1709p. He later sold the stock at 2663p, netting £267,000. Diageo's market value has fallen 14 per cent this year.

The fast food business's 1,350 restaurants have been closed since the Government brought in lockdown measures in March due to concerns over staff and customer safety.

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou urged them to back his bid to oust four directors at a meeting on May 22 as he thinks the order is a waste of money with the balance sheet already under threat from coronavirus.

The firm said that closing its stores in March has had a 'material impact' on trading and the company has initiated a 'broad range of actions to manage its costs and cash flow'.

Staff were asked to go into closed stores once a week and pack up stock so it could be sold online, but were told not to clock in, whistleblowers told the Guardian newspaper.

Serial investor Vin Murria, an adviser at Hgcapital, bought 13.25 per cent of the AIM-listed company's shares on April 30, according to a stock market announcement yesterday.

The grocer said its decision to stop people ordering bottled mineral water helped it complete 6,000 extra orders a week.

The Lloyd's of London insurer was a top FTSE 250 riser after placing the 57.6m shares, priced at 650p. This was 6 per cent cheaper than its share price the day before the fundraising launched.

The US giant said it will reopen its Shanghai Disneyland park on May 11 but severely limit the number of guests and enforce strict social distancing measures on rides and in restaurants.

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.

Chief exec Philip Jansen (pictured) said the company now aims to offer fibre to 4.5m homes and businesses by next March and 20m by the mid to late-2020s, up from a previous target of 15m..

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.

Uber Eats sales jumped 50 per cent as people locked down all over the world turned to restaurant deliveries as a treat at home. The company is trying to save more than £800m this year.

Cutifani will be given the 226,879 shares in 2025 if he and the firm hit targets. The Australian, 61, has led the FTSE 100-listed miner, which bought Sirius Minerals this year, since 2013.

The company's market value has rocketed 46 per cent this year to £13.1bn. The three rivals, in contrast, have all seen their share prices fall and are now worth less than £11bn put together.

JOE BERNSTEIN: With world-class players at a premium, the news that David De Gea is set to sign a new contract at Old Trafford gives Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a massive boost during a difficult period.

A year ago, Alexis Sanchez was the star attraction on Manchester United's tour of the United States. Now, he returns for pre-season training needing to salvage his Old Trafford career.

United failed to replace Lukaku before Thursday's transfer deadline, but Solskjaer believes his departure will benefit Mason Greenwood and the more fluid forward line he wants in his team.

The Chilean winger has struggled to make in impact since arriving at Old Trafford from Arsenal in 2018, and was given an extended break during pre-season after the Copa America.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to banish Alexis Sanchez to train with the reserves unless he agrees to a move away, according to The Sun. Roma are currently his only potential suitors.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS WHEELER: The astronomical deal United offered Sanchez when he signed from Arsenal made him the highest paid player in the Premier League. But it has now backfired.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Alexis Sanchez was indulged too long. That has always been the problem for Manchester United. Not that they started it.

Antonio Conte is pushing his Inter Milan bosses to pursue a deal for Manchester United flop Alexis Sanchez. However the Chilean's huge wages will likely be a huge problem.

The 30-year-old could join Romelu Lukaku as the second United player to sign for Inter this summer after the Belgian international completed a £73million move earlier this month.

Sanchez moved to Old Trafford in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan in January 2018 after beating Manchester City to the forward's signature. But he has endured a torrid time, scoring just twice last term

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted Alexis Sanchez could leave Manchester United in the coming weeks, with Inter Milan among the clubs showing interest in the forward.

Sanchez, like the Van Persie, swapped north London for Manchester, but has failed to follow in the Dutchman's footsteps since joining last January.

The 30-year-old, who has struggled for form at United, is in negotiations with Inter Milan over a season-long loan deal from Old Trafford. He reportedly had to visit the US embassy in the capital.

Inter Milan welcome Leece in their opening Serie A match on Monday night and Sanchez could reportedly be in attendance before undergoing a medical the next day.

Representatives from both clubs have held talks over the past few weeks in the hope of agreeing a deal that would see the former Barcelona and Arsenal end his torrid spell at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's plans to sell Alexis Sanchez to Inter Milan look set to be placed on hold while the club waits for news on Anthony Martial's thigh injury.

Manchester United hoped that Alexis Sanchez would be the man to kickstart their resurgence but the winger is joining Inter Milan having endured a miserable time at the club.