The Federal Reserve, which has pumped trillions in emergency funding into U.S. financial markets to stem the damage from the coronavirus pandemic, is expected on Wednesday to reiterate its promise to do whatever it takes to support the world's largest economy.
Standard Chartered PLC's first-quarter profit tumbled 12% on increased credit impairment and provisions for future loan losses as the coronavirus crisis hammered its borrowers, even as it expects an economic recovery later this year.
Britain's Fevertree Drinks said on Wednesday co-founder Charles Rolls plans to step down from his role as non-executive deputy chairman at the company's annual general meeting in June.
Daimler on Wednesday warned the carmaker faces a difficult second quarter as it hiked credit risk provisions to anticipate rising delinquencies among customers who leased or bought Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.
British clothing retailer Next said on Wednesday total product sales in its latest quarter crashed 41%, reflecting the closure of all its stores in the coronavirus lockdown and the temporary shutdown of its online operations.
Malaysia's AirAsia Group Bhd said on Wednesday it did not intend to take any new aircraft deliveries this year because of the sharp fall in demand from the coronavirus crisis, and was revisiting its order book with Airbus SE .
Asian shares climbed to a near two-month peak on Wednesday as investors took heart from easing coronavirus lockdowns in some parts of the world, better-than-expected corporate earnings and a welcome rebound in oil prices.
AstraZeneca on Wednesday beat analysts' estimates for first-quarter profit and reiterated its outlook for 2020, as demand for the company's newer medicines remained steady.
WPP , the world's biggest advertising company, said net sales fell 3.3% in the first quarter, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic dragging it down by 7.9% in March alone, prompting it to cut more costs.
Shares in airline group IAG fell 3% after the airline group launched a plan to shrink its main British Airways business, axing staff numbers by a quarter as it warned of a slow recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Britain's John Lewis Partnership [JLPLC.UL] has appointed James Bailey, a former director of Sainsbury's , to be the new boss of its upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose, it said on Wednesday.
British clothing retailer Next has shored up its finances to help get it through the coronavirus crisis by selling property, suspending share buybacks and dividends and cutting costs after first-quarter sales fell 41%.
AstraZeneca topped analysts' estimates for quarterly profit and reiterated its targets for the year on Wednesday, as the British drugmaker benefited from higher demand for some of its medicines during the coronavirus pandemic.
German auto supplier and technology company Robert Bosch [ROBG.UL] on Wednesday said it expected automotive production to fall by at least 20% this year, as the coronavirus pandemic slams the brakes on factory production lines and saps demand.
German carmaker Volkswagen is expecting an operating loss in the current quarter due the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, its chief financial officer said on Wednesday.