The Financial Conduct Authority, Britain's markets watchdog, has asked listed firms to delay their preliminary results amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Christopher Woolard, the regulator's interim chief executive, has written to all London-listed companies, urging them to postpone publishing their financial statements by at least two weeks. In the letter sent on Saturday night, the regulator has advised firms to assess the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on their business before preparing their disclosures.