Oil price collapse triggered by coronavirus pandemic almost halves Anglo-Dutch group’s earnings

Supermajors’ status as reliable income stocks questioned as earnings plunge

Biggest US oil company takes $2.9bn charge to account for crude’s plunge

Charging 2 per cent to hold assets when returns are low is wrong, writes Sebastian Mallaby

Shareholders’ incentives can make them more long-termist than company managers

It is always easy for central banks to find reasons not to act

If stimulus is well targeted, Boris Johnson’s government may achieve something of elegance

Benin crossing has been shut for three months, halting trade on vital frontier

Canadian group makes all-stock proposal public after talks fail to get off ground

Business contestants battle for $1m prize money in glitzy televised extravaganza

Eskom will remove 6,000 megawatts of demand to avert total collapse of national grid

State utility Eskom removed power to stave off grid collapse

Tie-up aims to allow people with mobile wallets to pay for international online services

Telecoms group seeks to turn mobile payments unit into provider of wider services

Legislation cuts taxes for some enterprises while increasing VAT

McKinsey, BCG and PwC named in records showing allegations of looting by Angolan billionaire

State-backed carrier starts cancelling flights as vital government funding is delayed

Suspected suicide comes as Angolan billionaire indicted for money laundering

Prospective deal comes as Riyadh-listed STC seeks to expand regionally

Pretoria has waived rules that prevented mining groups generating electricity for their own use

Endiama chief wants ‘radical change’ in overhaul of country’s scandal-hit gem industry

Neal Froneman highlights ‘lowest payback period’ after £285m purchase

Move could pave way for company to shift primary listing to London

Restrictions have hampered miner’s ability to move money out of the country

Central African Republic has just three ventilators for its 5m people

Two Gulf companies shipped jet fuel to renegade general Khalifa Haftar, documents show

World’s second-largest diamond miner cites disruption along the supply chain

Investors fret over the level of economic stimulus Washington is likely to provide

Nikkei 225 average drops 16 per cent over the week amid broad pandemic-linked sell-off

Trading restrictions did not work in the past; there is less reason for them to work this time

Country becomes first in world to halt all stock, bond and currency trading

Investors still on edge amid fears over economic impact of widespread shutdowns

The Japanese tech investment group is looking increasingly challenged

S&P 500 closes more than 9% higher as investors cheer Fed backstops and political progress

S&P 500 gives back some of its earlier rally as US stimulus package attracts objections on Capitol Hill

Change in Kospi 200 composition prompts US venues to suspend related derivatives

Virus’s swift and unforgiving economic effect may silence activists

Shares rally this week on hopes that spread of pandemic may be easing

Private equity group acquires 10% stake in Australia’s Crown Resorts

Buyers and sellers worry about risk of infection, say agents

Emergency move to prevent people being thrown out because of virus

Rising prices and flat tax thresholds since 2015 mean more homes in London and Southeast are in the top band

Mortgage products tracking base rate vanish as ‘the numbers no longer stack up’ 

US central bank accelerates purchases to stabilise market for securities backed by home loans

Lobby groups led by UK Finance warn there is likelihood of ‘severe’ impact to borrowers

Households urged to consider options such as reduced payments instead of delaying debt

60 per cent decline in sales predicted in the next three months

Coronavirus lockdown hits lenders’ ability to offer mortgages and evaluate properties

Regulatory action sought to prevent intervention from having unintended consequences

Non-bank lenders put on downgrade watch as sector braces for wave of borrowers not paying