Steve Eisman told investors last week that the Neuberger Berman Absolute Alpha Fund had dropped nearly 5 per cent in March as the Covid-19 crisis took hold.

Less money has been lent under the Business Interruption Loan Scheme than in Switzerland and Germany because the application process is too complex, the TaxPayers' Alliance said.

Though it is one of the largest lenders to small and medium-sized firms, it has only approved a tiny percentage of loans made under the Government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Novacyt has inked a deal with the Department of Health to provide it with 288,000 tests a week. And Omega Diagnostics has made fresh strides in the race to roll out antibody tests.

Treasury officials and the City watchdog expressed concern after it emerged a company is charging £500 upfront, then a percentage of the value of the loan if the application is successful.

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.

Firms are accusing each other of 'profiteering' from the pandemic. An estate agency in the Lake District sparked a debate after it said it had completed a viewing on a £1.25m home.

Amazon is expected to report profits of more than £7500 a second, meaning founder Jeff Bezos (pictured with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez) has added billions of dollars to his personal fortune.

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.

Last year Shell was the most generous dividend payer in the UK, handing pension funds and investors £11.6bn.That amounted to 15.5 per cent of all payments made by FTSE 100 firms.

Insurers have come under fire for refusing to pay out claims to companies which have been devastated by the lockdown. The Financial Conduct Authority plans to resolve this as quickly as possible.

The Cambridge-based software firm will create a 'strategy' title based on the hugely successful fantasy series that will be released on computer and game consoles such as Xbox and Playstation.

Deloitte's survey of 104 finance chiefs found that 84 per cent were less optimistic about prospects, compared with 47 per cent three months ago - the survey's biggest drop in confidence on record.

More than 300 listed companies have cut or cancelled payouts as they battle to survive. It is now feared that total dividend payments will fall from £98.5 billion last year to just £47.2 billion this year.

The IHS Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index gave a reading of 33.4 in April - significantly below the 50 mark which indicates activity was flat.

The tie-up would transform the telecoms market overnight, creating a powerhouse to challenge former state monopoly BT.

William Hill is benefiting to the tune of over £30m per month from the wage subsidy scheme and the business rates holiday, while Paddy Power is saving £400,000 per month in business rates.

Virgin blamed the 'severe impact' of coronavirus, which has prompted travel restrictions and forced airlines to ground fleets, and it comes just days after BA said it could also leave.

The insurance giant said it would sell up to 58m shares, which at last night's price of 692.4p would be worth £400m, collecting the money so it could 'respond to future growth opportunities'.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is looking at claims from 12,000 savers who bought so-called mini bonds from LCF and were left high and dry when the company collapsed.

The British telecoms giant has long been seen as a potential suitor for broadband provider Virgin after it previously held unsuccessful takeover talks with parent Liberty Global.

The group admitted that around 12,000 of its credit card customers, or 1.2 per cent, were already seriously in arrears by three months or more before the pandemic.

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.

Chief executive Philip Jansen, who recently recovered from Covid-19, said a new target of full fibre to 20 million homes by the mid to late 2020s is now in place.

Does it really make sense for pensioners who, directly or indirectly, rely on their income from dividends to have those incomes further cut by Bank of England diktat?

The products and services provided by the big tech firms are deeply embedded in the lives of individuals and the business practices of companies.

The anti-viral solution leaves a protective layer that bonds to the surface, creating a safer environment in shared spaces such as restaurants, bars and shops.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey (pictured) has put pressure on banks to ramp up lending as the central bank predicted the economy would shrink by 30 per cent in the first half of the year.

Liberty Global and Telefonica - parent firms of Virgin Media and O2 respectively - said they had agreed a deal after announcing talks were under way on Monday.

From temperature tests on arrival to face masks and two-metre distancing, this is the first glimpse of how manufacturing in Britain could look in the wake of the lockdown.

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.

As a nation in lockdown commemorated VE-Day, here is something to ponder. In the midst of the War, policymakers in Britain and around the world were deep in planning for the peace.

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.

CHRIS WHEELER IN PERTH: Pogba and his agent Mino Raiola have made no secret of his desire to leave, but Solskjaer believes he can motivate United's record signing to be a key player.

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

Romelu Lukaku has been bombarding former Manchester United team-mate Alexis Sanchez with messages to convince him to join Inter Milan. He told the Chilean Italy is more beautiful than Manchester.

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.

MARTIN KEOWN discusses Alexis Sanchez, David Luiz, prospects for Sunday's north London derby and the latest England squad in his latest Q&A with the fans.

The Welsh youngster's stunning strike at Southampton this afternoon was his third since joining this summer, as the 21-year-old finds his feet in Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side.

Gary Neville is still stunned by Alexis Sanchez's failure at Manchester United and insists nobody could have seen it coming. He left to join Inter Milan on loan for the rest of this season.

Alexis Sanchez went from hero to zero on Saturday after scoring his first goal for Inter before being sent off after picking up a second bookable offence for diving against Sampdoria.

Alexis Sanchez has been speaking like a man reborn since ending his horror Manchester United spell and sealing a move to Inter Milan, admitting he feels like he has fallen in love with football again.

Gary Neville says Manchester United have gone backwards after selling Marouane Fellaini, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku but urged them to 'hold their nerve' with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Alexis Sanchez could return from injury for Inter Milan quicker than was initially anticipated. The winger,was ruled out for around three months after suffering a serious ankle injury.

Inter Milan had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank after surviving an 88th minute penalty to earn a point against fifth-placed Serie A side Atalanta with a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at a loss to understand AC Milan's second half collapse at the San Siro after they let a two-goal lead slip to lose the Milan derby 4-2 to title-chasing arch rivals Inter

Inter fan favourite Ivan Zamorano has hailed the impact of manager Antonio Conte and believes that much-maligned forward Alexis Sanchez could prove pivotal in their quest to win Serie A this season.

CEO Giuseppe Marotta has expressed his fears after Inter's match at Juventus, which was to have been played later on Sunday, was one of five which were postponed by Serie A on Saturday.