An economic slowdown or recession has far reaching consequences for prosperity and peoples' jobs of course, but the entire financial system is not in peril, as it was in 2008.

Panic over coronavirus has badly shaken the world's financial markets, culminating, on Monday, in the FTSE 100 suffering its sharpest one-day fall since the height of the 2008 crash.

Lifetime Isas allow under-40s to save for a home and retirement at once, and the Government is offering free top-ups worth up to £32,000 if you max out your fund.

We explain the challenges of staying invested during retirement, and offer a checklist on what to do in a market meltdown.

Stock markets are in freefall as coronavirus threatens to tip the world into recession. The FTSE fell another 4 per cent yesterday, taking losses in the past three weeks to more than 30 per cent.

History, we are told, provides lessons. But a study of the scary details of past stock market crashes is of little help in showing us precisely how we should react to the current slump.

No one quite knows where the gold price is heading - up or down - but the precious metal's reputation as a safe haven in troubled times is resulting in record investor demand.

Dividend cuts are an inevitable consequence of the economy - both here and worldwide - sliding into recession in the coming months.

It is hard to find a silver lining in the coronavirus crisis, but what is make-or-break for many business sectors - including travel, tourism and hospitality - might turn out to be a chance for others.

Five hugely experienced fund managers who passionately believe that stock markets reward long-term investors, however painful the present may be.

You can now put your money into an investment Isa wrapper, leave it in cash and invest it in stocks gradually over the course of the year. All the major fund supermarkets will allow you to hold cash.

Here, we have asked eight influential experts who have invested through previous crashes to share their top tips on surviving the coronavirus pandemic-hit stock market.

The UK economy is highly likely to fall into a recession due to coronavirus. We look at funds to protect your wealth.

Interactive Investor's determination to take the DIY investing fight to the UK's leading platform Hargreaves Lansdown was signalled again as it bought out a rival.

Collectors and investors flocked to gold coins as a safe haven buy amid stock market turbulence caused by coronavirus, with some selling for triple their estimates in a behind closed doors auction.

Anthony Bolton, who has been one of the UK's most successful investors over the last four decades, said he has returned to investing in a personal capacity.

In buying shares in their own firms, directors are signalling they have confidence in the company's future - and that the share price represents good value.

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best.

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.

Any update on recent trading and what this could mean for 2020's revenues and profits will be gratefully received by shareholders when Tesco reports its full-year results next Wednesday.

I looked for a safe investment and came across Wellesley & Co. I received a call, apparently from Wellesley but which turned out to be from a scammer. And I instructed my bank to transfer cash.

Investors will be glad to see the back of the first three months of 2020, after the coronavirus outbreak meant that the first quarter of the year proved brutal.

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.

Absolute return funds are designed to turn a profit come what may. They were out of favour before the coronavirus emergency, but is it worth shopping for one now?

As more companies are set to tap shareholders for cash, an app called Primary Bid is calling for companies to allow ordinary investors to participate in these funding calls.

Richard Wilson, the boss of giant investment broker Interactive Investor, thinks that now the tide is going out during the coronavirus crisis, it is exposing the true nature of some of Britain's bosses.

Five years has always been the standard stipulation from financial experts as the minimum period that small investors should plan to remain in the market.

It is one of the most viewed shares on online trading platforms and its price has rocketed from 13 per cent at the start of the year to a peak of 491p on Tuesday.

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.

Share prices have rallied since governments began injecting billions into faltering economies. But Elliott Management and Peter Hargreaves are warning of further heavy falls.

After a shaky start caused by stockpiling, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have mostly kept shelves stocked and ensured supplies for the vulnerable, enhancing their reputation with customers.

It won't just be Lloyds Banking Group under the spotlight when it reports its first-quarter results - it will be the whole economy.

With more than half the world currently under some form of lockdown, the businesses that are still able to serve our needs are reporting increased profits and moving into new markets.

More younger people are investing thanks to the rise of the simple stocks and shares Isa - are they worried about recent market volatility? We find out.

Despairing income investors watching dividends shrivel or vanish should consider corporate debt, say experts.

Older people who are anxious about their pensions or other finances can book a 'no strings attached' call with a regulated financial adviser.

In a little under two weeks the reward for digitally mining Bitcoin will be halved from 12.5 coins per block to 6.25, constricting the supply of the cryptocurrency and potentially driving up price.

In future, more people may want to preserve their money, rather than maximise returns. Fund managers like Jonathan Ruffer who are committed to safeguarding could become power players.

When it comes to buying and selling cryptocurrencies, it is the Wild West out there. This is Money guides you through wallets, exchanges and CFDs.

In the 1936, the War Office turned a disused mine into an underground weapons store. In 2008 it was acquired by Restore, which is now the second largest data storage firm in Britain.

Of 176 dividend announcements made by companies between mid-March and mid-April, only 14 confirmed the continued payment of a dividend. But there is the odd 'sweet spot'.

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

Experts say the trend is not unusual in times of economic uncertainty, where investors look for items that hold or increase in value while the stock markets are volatile.

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.

Damage done to Britain's prosperity by the severity of the lockdown is terrifying. It has not been made any easier by the wilful destruction of the country's smaller enterprises.

For everyone managing a pension or investment fund, Shell's decision to slash its dividend by two-thirds and suspend promised share buybacks will be a profound shock.

A message from the Portuguese was posted on the club's official Twitter account on Thursday amid the coronavirus pandemic. Tottenham's £1billion stadium is acting as a distribution centre.

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.

Ed Woodward has warned that Manchester United will curb their spending this summer and cannot break the world transfer record to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham for £200million.

The Belgium international right-back, who turns 29 in September, is weighing up a number of options as he prepares to leave Paris St Germain with Borussia Dortmund also interested.