Alok Sharma has been urged to speed up a review of City rules that make it hard for individuals to take part in major company decisions ahead of the vote at Sirius Minerals next Tuesday.

Companies globally are suffering the effects of the spread of the virus. The FTSE 100, which makes up Britain's biggest firms, fell by 3.3 per cent on Monday wiping around £62bn off their value.

Markets started off believing that the coronavirus outbreak would be brief and contained, and the ill-effects would be eased by central banks or governments.

In the early days of the virus, the markets reacted and then seemed to steady themselves, leading to a belief that this was a temporary blip and things would soon return to normal.

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.

The longest recovery was 1,529 days following the 2008 financial crisis, but the 1987 crash also took well over 1,000 days - so will this be an average, slow or swift bounce back?

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.

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.

London-based Ruffer, founded by Jonathan Ruffer, has revealed it made huge profits from a series of complicated trades, which helped offset losses as stock markets were hammered.

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.

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

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.

Britain's world class big pharma companies were always going to be a huge asset in the fight against Covid-19 and in finding solutions, not just to this pandemic, but to future similar events.

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.

Former Manchester United defender Rafael da Silva has warned the club on pursuing top targets Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho as they might come 'for the money'.

The 27-year-old, who has undertaken two separate fortnights in quarantine, is likely to have to self-isolate for another 14 days with the authorities tightening up measures for those jetting into the country.

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's a month since chairman Daniel Levy called on all players to agree pay cuts to help football survive the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus.

Now in charge of Tottenham, Mourinho (left) insists he was not aware that the 15-year anniversary was today and is instead looking towards winning a fourth Premier League title in total.

JOE BERNSTEIN: Mourinho breezed into Stamford Bridge in June, 2004, having just won the Champions League with Porto. He quickly declared himself as the 'special one'.

AHEAD OF THE GAME: Chelsea players' U-turn on accepting pay cuts last weekend followed pressure from players at other Premier League clubs

Villas-Boas is trying to salvage his managerial career in France but has insisted there is no chance of a return to England in the future and would prefer another spell in Asia, after managing in China.

Joshua's first defence after regaining the IBF, WBA and WBO belts was scheduled to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June but it was scuppered by the coronavirus pandemic.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY SIMON HART: Were we living in normal times, Nayim would this week have stood in Zaragoza's cathedral square, attempting to recreate a moment now 25 years old.

Mike Kerley, of Henderson Far East Income has rewarded investors willing to back his investment trust with a solid stream of dividends combined with share price growth in recent years.

Henry Boucher, of Sarasin Food and Agriculture Opportunities explains how from field to fork, and the consumer economy to climate change, there are fascinating changes taking place in the food chain.

Scottish Mortgage's co-manager Tom Slater, explains how the trust invests and why he believes 'the world's most exciting, interesting growth companies' have more good times ahead.

'It's not just about high yield, it's about owning companies with dividends that we think can steadily grow into the future', says Troy Income & Growth co-manager Hugo Ure on the latest Investing Show.

The scheme will focus on s road improvements, housing and local infrastructure, regional growth and business, science, and schools and colleges.

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.

The Treasury watchdog was forced on Wednesday to defend its reputation after it again downgraded its forecasts for the British economy and the public finances.

Adele Collinson, pictured, owns an arts and crafts busines and worries the new cap on tax-free pension contributions will hit her retirement plans.

The age at which people can claim their state pension will rise to 68 in the mid-2030s, 69 in the late-2040s and future rises will be linked to life expectancy.

Oil price decline provides a key backcloth to the budget. It will keep downward pressure on inflation, and offers the prospect that the decline in real earnings could start to be reversed.

Ahead of the Autumn Statement a study has warned that planned welfare curbs and rising inflation are set to deal a major blow to the 'just about managing' group - or 'JAMs'.

Defying Brexit doomsayers, the deficit came in at £4.3billion in October - below the £6billion expected. The figures emerged on the eve of Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement.

A row has erupted in response to the tenant fee ban, with some landlord and agents reacting with fury to what they say are ‘unworkable’ plans that would have a ‘boomerang’ effect.

Swansea City manager Steve Cooper is keen to sign Reece James from Chelsea. James is recovering from damaging ankle ligaments nd much will hinge on his rehabilitation timeframe.

Marco Silva wants new faces this summer with Zaha the top of his wishlist before the window closes. And after drawing a blank against Wigan Athletic, Silva is unlikely to renege on his desire for forwards.

Rio Ferdinand, who was on the pitch in October 2011 when Luis Suarez abused Patrice Evra, hit out at the length of time it has taken for any apology to come from those associated with Liverpool.

Josh Brownhill scored a stoppage-time winner to win all three points for 10-man Bristol City against Charlton. Elsewhere, Derby overcame Wigan while Middlesbrough drew with Huddersfield.

ROB STEWART AT ASHTON GATE: Pedro Pereira's first Bristol City goal earned the Robins a late draw with Wigan in their Championship clash at Ashton Gate.

Takumi Minamino joins Liverpool as the Reds' first Japanese player and the ninth to have played in the Premier League. Here, Sportsmail takes a look back at how the first eight got on...

In the race to be named the most popular family package holiday destination, Tenerife has come out on top for the second year running, according to TravelSupermarket.

This week, the pound has taken a tumble, leaving it at a 28 month low against the dollar while it has also dipped significantly against the euro.

It may surprise some but Croatia, Malta and Lithuania are all holiday hotspots appearing on Britons' 2020 wish lists, new research has revealed.

Some 80% of the top 40 holiday currencies have fallen in value against the pound, stretching holidaymakers' cash further, according to research from Post Office travel money.

The firm, which has more than 10,000 cottages on its books, instead wants customers to rebook the same property for a later date - and potentially be charged more.

Australian fashion designer Camilla Franks posted a series of emotional photos to commemorate finishing treatment for stage three breast cancer a year ago, as she prepares to have her ovaries removed.