Multinationals suspend business in China as fallout from coronavirus widens. British Airways cancelled all flights to and from the country for the “next few days”, as carmaker Toyota suspended production at four auto plants and Starbucks closed 2,000 of its Chinese outlets, cautioning that its annual results could be hit by the deadly disease.
Apple has recorded its biggest ever quarterly profit as America’s largest listed company defied forecasts that iPhone sales would fall. Revenues from the iPhone rose by 8pc in the final three months of 2019 to $56bn (£43bn), Apple said.
One of the City’s most powerful voices has rallied behind Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) boss Tim Martin in his bitter feud with shareholders over the pub giant’s board. The Investor Forum, which represents a group of investors with more than £18.5 trillion under management, has emerged as an unlikely ally of Mr Martin as it publishes its annual report.
House prices rose at their fastest annual rate in more than a year in January, adding to signs of a pickup in the sector and broader economic confidence since Boris Johnson’s election victory last month. Annual house prices increased 1.9pc in January from 1.4pc in December, according to the Nationwide House Price Index, the fastest rate since November 2018.
