That's it from Business Live for today.

Do join us tomorrow for all the latest breaking news and analysis about business and the coronavirus outbreak.

Finally, the landlord of The Bell at Sapperton, Gloucestershire, is urging people to support their pub and others by ordering take-away food and beer.

He said: "Please, if people just order one meal a week from us, it might keep our staff in jobs.

"We can also deliver beer or drinks. We have plenty here."

He also urged local people to ring in if they knew of anyone old or isolated who needed help with food deliveries.

The S&P 500 has lost some of its earlier gains but is still up 4.08% on the day at 2,483.58.

The Nasdaq index is up a simialr amount - 4.11% - at 7,188.23.

The Dow Jones is up 2.35% at 20,662.91.

The blue-chip index has ended the day up 2.79%, or 143.82 points, at 5,294.90.

But the mid-cap FTSE 250 index closed down 424.78 points, or 2.96%, at 13,924.

Zoe Thomas
US business reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Facebook has announced it will give each employee a $1,000 bonus to help with the impact of coronavirus.

The company has nearly 45,000 full-time employees.

It has not yet said whether the bonuses will also be given to the firm’s thousands of contract workers.

Earlier today the company announced it would launch a $100m program to help small business weather the crisis.

Facebook said it would provide grants and ad-credit to small businesses forced to close because of the outbreak.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a bit of positive news.

Supermarket Morrisons has pledged to create 3,500 new jobs so that it can expand its delivery services.

The supermarket says that it is expanding home delivery with new ways of getting shopping to people and more slots for customers to help during the coronavirus crisis.

“We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be very testing and we are determined to do our bit," said boss David Potts.

Last week it introduce immediate payments for its smaller suppliers to support their cashflow.

A lot of you have written in with your stories of shrinking pension pots.

Andy is typical, He says: "I'm due to retire at the end of next month, so for the past five years my pension pot has been invested in very modest growth areas.

"In January, my pot was worth just over £606k, it's now valued at £505k. Even careful investors plans have been absolutely decimated," he points out.

But Ian Brown says: "A typical medium risk pension default fund that the majority of pension funds are held in, would have grown around 75% in the last 10 years.

"In the last month, it will have lost around 15% .

"Somebody asked why pension are linked to financial markets: there is your answer- If they were not, all pension pots would be a LOT smaller."

Image source, Center Parcs

Meanwhile Center Parcs in Longleat has announced it will close from next Monday until the 16 April.

In a statement a company spokesman said: "In light of the latest government guidelines regarding coronavirus, the decision has been taken to close all of our villages from 20 March to 16 April 2020, external.

"The safety and well-being of our guests and staff is our absolute priority and we feel that this decision supports the government’s guidelines."

Image source, PA Media

More closures around the country: York Minister has been closed to the public until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The closure also applies to the Old Palace Museum, Library and Archives in Dean’s Park, however, Dean’s Park itself and the Minster School will remain open.

In a statement, external The Chapter of York, the governing body of York Minster, said: "Even though the Minster will be closed to the public, the Minster clergy will still maintain a pattern of daily prayer, praying for the needs of the nation and our world at this time."

The Brent Crude futures price has fallen 0.93% to leave it at $29.77, the first time it's drifted below $30 since January 2016.

Image source, Getty Images

There are plenty of big fallers in the FTSE 100 today, even though the blue-chip index is currently up 1.6%.

Worst hit is retailer JD Sports, which has lost 17.83%, but not far behind is cruise company Carnival, down 17.23%.

Builder Taylor Wimpey has fallen 15.18% while defence specialist Meggit is down 13.73%,

The issue of people's pensions shrinking during the current market turmoil has certainly stirred up Business Live readers.

27-year-old engineer John has no sympathy at all.

"Under no circumstances should the government support pension schemes. Like the financial adviser has said, it is known that the value can go up or down.

"If I have to manage my money. So do they. If they want a pension handout then I want a house discounted to a 1980s rate. That sounds ridiculous, because it is."

Meanwhile Brenda thinks the link between pensions and the stock market should be severed.

"I have wondered for years why something so important as pensions, our funds to live on in the future, are tied into something as volatile as stocks and shares," she says.

"It seems obvious to me that something that says “your investment could fall as well as rise” is not the best place to be encouraged to put money that governs the future quality of our lives.

"This link between pensions and stocks and shares also means that too many people are affected by the movements of markets. Are there really no safer ways?"

That's the eternal question of risk and reward, which is perhaps something to be discussed another day.

Theo Leggett
BBC International Business Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced it is suspending production at its plant in Sunderland.

The factory builds the Qashqai and Juke models, as well as the electric Leaf, and employs 7000 people. It is not clear how long the halt in production will last.

The company said further measures were being studied, as it assessed disruption in its supply chain and sudden drop in demand caused by the Covid-19 emergency.

Ford and Volkswagen have also today announced plans to shut plants in continental Europe, while the French group PSA and Fiat Chrysler both announced shutdowns on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a package of measures worth €200bn euros (£182bn), made up of loans, credit guarantees, benefits and direct aid, to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy.

The package represents about 20% of the country's gross domestic product, Sanchez said in a televised address, adding that the government would mobilise €117bn euros for the package, with the rest to come from private companies.

The measures include €100bn in state-backed credit guarantees and unlimited liquidity lines for companies.

“Vehicle production has been suspended today in Nissan Sunderland Plant," a Nissan statement says.

"Further measures are currently under study as we assess supply chain disruption and the sudden drop in market demand caused by the COVID-19 emergency.”

Image source, BF

Brittany Ferries is to suspend all passenger services as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The company, which had already halted some crossings, said the last passenger sailing would leave Santander in Spain on Saturday, bound for Portsmouth.

Passengers will be asked to remain in their cabins over the coming days and bring their own food, as there will be none available on board.

The services are suspended until at least 23 March.

Freight ferries will continue to operate between the continent, and Portsmouth and Rosslare.

The French firm said passengers should only travel if their journeys were "essential".

Image source, Getty Images

There are quite a few high-fliers in the FTSE 100 today as some shares - led by the miners - bounce back.

The blue chip index itself is currently up 0.8% at 5,192.06.

Miner Antofagasta is up 10.96% while grocery delivery firm Ocado has risen 9.16%.

Miner BHP is showing gains of 7.51% while cleaning product provider Reckitt Benckiser has added 7.23%.