Upcoming results. Several companies are due to publish their figures for the first quarter of 2020 this week. Examples include JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, UnitedHealth, ASML, Goldman Sachs, LVMH, L'Oréal and Rio Tinto.

"A temporary crisis". At this stage, Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser does not foresee any job cuts despite coronavirus. "Nobody at Siemens will leave because of a temporary fluctuation in business," he explained in an interview with the Bavarian daily Passauer Neue Presse. A positive message from the boss of the German conglomerate.

AB InBev reduces its dividend. The brewer is revising its proposal to pay a final dividend of EUR 1 per share for 2019 downwards, replacing it with a proposal of EUR 0.50 per share. Anheuser-Busch InBev also announces the postponement of its EGM/AGM from 29 April 2020 to 3 June. "AB InBev has determined that it would be prudent and in the best interests of the Company to reduce the final dividend amount for the year 2019" in the context of coronavirus.

Tracing or no tracing? Apple and Google have entered into a groundbreaking partnership to offer digital tracking of people who have been in close proximity to coronavirus-infected people via Bluetooth technology. This tracing solution will be available in mid-May "as software tools for digital tracking applications approved by public health authorities". Several such initiatives are underway by governments. With the inevitable debate on individual freedoms looming.

And in the end, Amazon wins. Amazon.com is hiring an additional 75,000 employees in the United States, and plans to resume delivery of "non-essential" products. Last month, the online sales colossus had already hired 100,000 additional employees. Investors have named the company among the big winners in the current crisis, at least in terms of its stock price: +17% since January 1.

eBay finds its CEO. eBay will be looking for its managing director, Jamie Iannone, at Walmart. He is currently at the helm of the online commerce activities of the physical distribution giant in the United States. He will be wearing his new suit from April 27.

In a turbulent area. Norwegian Air's shares fell by more than 60% on Tuesday when they resumed trading after the airline proposed a financial rescue package that would significantly dilute existing shareholders. Later in the morning, the loss was reduced but remains above 30%.

In other news. Softbank expects JPY 750bn (about €7bn) in losses for the fiscal year ending March 31, due to Covid-19 and bad investments. Donald Trump reiterated his position on Boeing, saying that the United States will do what is necessary to support the manufacturer. Exxon Mobil is raising $9.5bn on the debt market, to strengthen its cash position, Walt Disney is doing the same with a $5bn envelope. Royal Dutch Shell is withdrawing from the Meretoyakha Neftegaz project with Gazprom in the Russian Arctic, citing a "difficult external context". AstraZeneca will test Calquence on Covid-19 patients.