China's plans to introduce real estate investment trusts (REITs) mark a crucial step to get private money to fund infrastructure such as toll roads and sewage systems, but authorities have their work cut out in creating a fully-fledged market.

This year will be the worst for many world stock markets in nearly a decade at least, although a majority of equity strategists polled by Reuters say top indexes will not revisit lows struck this March following an explosive rally since then.

Two-thirds of alternative fund managers expect GDP to shrink by at least 3% in their focus markets this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a global survey showed on Thursday.

Greensill Capital said it has dropped a libel suit against Reuters over a story which said that the financing group had provided a false statement to market participants in 2018.

The recovery from the coronavirus financial crash will take time for European stocks which are expected to end 2021 around 10% below this February's record high, a Reuters poll of about 30 fund managers, strategists and brokers showed.

Asset manager St James's Place reported a 1% rise in year-on-year net inflows to 810 million pounds in April as clients resisted panic and continued to invest in the face of the coronavirus and its likely impact on their wealth.

A cluster of big name hedge funds have started betting against French companies, moving in after the lifting of a short-selling ban imposed earlier this year to calm financial markets, an analysis of regulatory filings showed.

British property funds are set to remain frozen for months as the market is impossible to value due to the coronavirus crisis, and some may need to change structure to survive, industry sources say.

Eight European countries have urged the European Union to include natural gas in future funding, as the bloc's executive prepares to unveil its plan for a green economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Global equity markets have shuffled up about 1% this month despite the world starting to re-open after the coronavirus-driven lockdowns and U.S. and European economic data showing glimmers of a recovery.

The coronavirus pandemic has emptied offices and shuttered shops but filled warehouses and highlighted demand for work-from-home spaces, leaving investors wondering if they should flee real estate or double down on their bets.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak will tell employers on Friday how much they must contribute to the government's hugely expensive wage subsidy programme from August, a prospect that some firms say will lead to more job losses.

Carmaker Renault said on Friday it was launching talks with unions to restructure some French plants and potentially close others as it confirmed plans to cut around 15,000 jobs worldwide to ride out a slump in sales.

Britain cannot run its COVID-19 jobs protection scheme indefinitely and needs to start tapering it down as people slowly return to work, environment minister George Eustice said on Friday.

China will attack Taiwan if there is no other way of stopping it from becoming independent, one of the country's most senior generals said on Friday, a rhetorical escalation from China aimed at the democratic island Beijing claims as its own.

British business confidence fell to its lowest since the 2008 financial crisis in May, according to a survey for Lloyds Bank which contrasts with other surveys which have shown a small improvement since the initial shock of the coronavirus lockdown.

British car production could slump this year to the lowest level in decades after the coronavirus pandemic forced factories to close and hit demand, according to an industry body.

Peaceful rallies gave way to a third night of arson, looting and vandalism in Minneapolis on Thursday as protesters vented their rage over the death of a black man seen on video gasping for breath while a white police officer knelt on his neck.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Thursday asked the Justice Department to investigate systemic police misconduct following a spate of high-profile police killings of African Americans.

Stock markets dipped and safe-havens such as bonds and Japan's yen firmed on Friday, as investors awaited Washington's response to China tightening control over the city of Hong Kong.

Britain cannot run its COVID-19 jobs protection scheme indefinitely and needs to start tapering it down as people slowly return to work, environment minister George Eustice said on Friday.

The coronavirus lockdown will ease next week for most of Britain's population, Boris Johnson announced on Thursday, as a row persisted over the prime minister's closest adviser taking a long-distance journey during lockdown.

This year will be the worst for many world stock markets in nearly a decade at least, although a majority of equity strategists polled by Reuters say top indexes will not revisit lows struck this March following an explosive rally since then.

The recovery from the coronavirus financial crash will take time for European stocks which are expected to end 2021 around 10% below this February's record high, a Reuters poll of about 30 fund managers, strategists and brokers showed.

British employers turned a bit less pessimistic about hiring and investment this month as the government moved to relax its coronavirus lockdown of much of the economy, according to a survey published by a recruiting industry body.

British property funds are set to remain frozen for months as the market is impossible to value due to the coronavirus crisis, and some may need to change structure to survive, industry sources say.

Britain has extended its mortgage payment holiday scheme for homeowners in financial difficulty during the coronavirus pandemic for another three months.

Britain's economy could be facing a slower recovery from its deep coronavirus slump than the Bank of England suggested this month and all stimulus options, including sub-zero interest rates, should be considered, a BoE deputy governor said.

British consumer confidence in early May dipped back down to its joint-lowest level since the global financial crisis in 2009, despite moves by the government to start loosening its coronavirus lockdown, a survey showed on Friday.

Britain is enduring its deepest recession in centuries but the havoc wrought by the coronavirus pandemic will not be enough to push the Bank of England to adopt negative interest rates, a Reuters poll found.

Peaceful rallies gave way to a third night of arson, looting and vandalism in Minneapolis on Thursday as protesters vented their rage over the death of a black man seen on video gasping for breath while a white police officer knelt on his neck.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Thursday asked the Justice Department to investigate systemic police misconduct following a spate of high-profile police killings of African Americans.

Had it not been for the coronavirus, Nepali climbing guide Tashi Lakpa Sherpa would have been on Mount Everest now, guiding clients and trying to add another feather in his cap - a ninth ascent.

China will attack Taiwan if there is no other way of stopping it from becoming independent, one of the country's most senior generals said on Friday, a rhetorical escalation from China aimed at the democratic island Beijing claims as its own.

Curbs in Japan's capital of Tokyo to contain the coronavirus are to be eased further from Monday, Governor Yuriko Koike said, citing the recommendation of an advisory panel.

The head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Friday that "one country, two systems" and "peaceful reunification" is the best way to bring China and Taiwan together.

China's public security ministry pledged to "guide and support" the Hong Kong police force after China's parliament approved a decision to impose a national security law on the semi-autonomous territory, highlighting Beijing's intention to take a more hands-on law-enforcement role in the city.

President Donald Trump said he will introduce legislation that may scrap or weaken a law that has protected internet companies, including Twitter and Facebook , in an extraordinary attempt to regulate social media platforms where he has been criticized.

China will use all means to prevent pro-independence forces separating Taiwan from China but non-peaceful action against the Chinese-claimed island is a last resort, the ruling Communist Party's third most senior leader said on Friday.

The phones at the Tokyo suicide hotline start ringing as soon as it opens for its once-weekly overnight session. They don't stop until the lone volunteer fielding calls from hundreds of people yearning to talk signs out early the next morning.

SoftBank Vision Fund's head, Rajeev Misra, saw his total pay for the past business year more than double to roughly $15 million, even as the fund's underperformance pushed SoftBank to a record operating loss of some $13 billion.

President Donald Trump said he will introduce legislation that may scrap or weaken a law that has protected internet companies, including Twitter and Facebook, in an extraordinary attempt to regulate social media platforms where he has been criticized.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg took pains to distance his company from Twitter and its fight with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, as the White House moved to scrap a law protecting social media companies.

Salesforce.com Inc cut its annual revenue and profit forecasts on Thursday, as the cloud-based business software maker allowed clients to defer payments and provided its sales team one-time commissions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. President Donald Trump's attempt to curb what he says is social media censorship is a political gambit and will not change the legal obligations of companies like Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc, according to legal experts.

The UK is pursuing forming an alliance of 10 democracies to create an alternative pool of suppliers of 5G equipment and other technologies to avoid relying on China, The Times reported.

Cisco Systems Inc has agreed to acquire privately held software maker ThousandEyes Inc, the network gear maker said on Thursday.

Dell Technologies Inc beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, boosted by demand for its workstations from companies moving more employees to work from home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A Canadian court ruling that could permit the extradition of a senior Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] executive to the United States leaves Canada vulnerable to further retaliation from Beijing, analysts said.

TikTok's poaching of Disney's Kevin Mayer to be its CEO was just the most visible part of a broader strategy by its Chinese owner to shift its centre of power away from China at a time of rising global tensions, several people familiar with the plans said.

Matteo Bocelli, the son of renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, on Friday released a new version of "The Lion King" movie ballad "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," the first single from an album of classical versions of Disney songs.

Comedian Chris Rock and actress Rosie Perez made a surprise appearance at New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily news conference to underscore his message that the public should wear masks to help curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Lockdown bans on live performances have left many British musicians on the breadline, fuelling a campaign for them to get a bigger share of the profits from streaming their songs online.

A piece of Elvis Presley memorabilia is up for sale, and it is probably the most Elvis thing you can possibly imagine - a rhinestone studded jockstrap said to have been worn by the king.

Big Hit Entertainment, the management label of South Korean K-Pop group BTS, has filed for a preliminary review of a planned initial public offering, the Korea Exchange said on Thursday.

Apple Inc has secured a deal for Hollywood veteran Martin Scorsese's next film, "Killers of the Flower Moon," U.S. media reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

Japanese reality TV show "Terrace House" has suspended its production for the 2019-2020 season after the sudden death of a 22-year-old cast member, it said on its website.

Along with hair stylists, camera operators and the hundreds of others who make magic happen for TV and film, Hollywood is counting on a new supporting member for future productions: COVID-19 consultants.

AT&T’s WarnerMedia division launches its HBO Max streaming service on Wednesday, taking on Netflix, Disney and Amazon at a time when coronavirus lockdowns have boosted demand for streaming even as rising unemployment has cut disposable incomes.

Nigeria's film industry is creeping back to work after lockdown, and one of the first productions to resume is a new television series about a highly infectious disease that has ravaged the world.

Relief and excitement are the overwhelming emotions for Afghanistan after Australia confirmed they would host them for a one-off test in Perth from Nov. 21, the chief executive of the country's cricket board has told Reuters.

Phil Neville has said coaching the England women's team was a three-year project for him and that his goal was always to move into club management.

The Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) will set up a new development programme in Sydney as they look to develop regional talent for the future, Motorsport Australia said on Friday.

Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin will play no part in the remainder of the season after the Premier League club said he will undergo surgery next week for an Achilles tendon injury sustained in training.

Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts has downplayed the prospect of the Twenty20 World Cup going ahead in 2020, saying the October-November schedule was under "very high risk" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Four-times Olympic champion Simone Biles said she was hopeful the rescheduled Tokyo Games will take place next year, amid concern over the global response to the novel coronavirus.

The BBC will for the first time air free-of-charge Premier League soccer games live when the season restarts next month, the broadcaster said on Thursday.

Resuming training is safer than visiting a supermarket, and some Premiership players and coaches are "finding all the reasons" to avoid returning to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter.

The Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame said on Thursday the enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2020, a group that includes the late Kobe Bryant, has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The John Deere Classic scheduled for July in Illinois, which was supposed to be the fifth event of the circuit's revamped schedule, has been cancelled due to state-related challenges regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA Tour said on Thursday.

Relief and excitement are the overwhelming emotions for Afghanistan after Australia confirmed they would host them for a one-off test in Perth from Nov. 21, the chief executive of the country's cricket board has told Reuters.

* IPL could clash with Australian internationals (Adds details, byline)

Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts has downplayed the prospect of the Twenty20 World Cup going ahead in 2020, saying the October-November schedule was under "very high risk" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The suspense over the fate of this year's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia continued on Thursday after the International Cricket Council (ICC) deferred all discussions to its next board meeting on June 10.

Women's sport might need a generation to get back recent gains if it is left "by the wayside" during the COVID-19 pandemic as organisations focus on getting men's competitions back on track, the head of a New Zealand women's advocacy agency told Reuters.

* WACA chief "astounded" for Perth to miss out on India match (Adds details, WACA Chief Executive comment, byline)

India is not at risk of losing hosting rights for next year's Twenty20 World Cup despite its cricket board's failure to secure a tax exemption for the event, a key BCCI official has told Reuters.

Surrey County Cricket Club is looking into the possibility of hosting matches at The Oval with a reduced capacity of around 6,000 fans when the COVID-19 shutdown ends, its chief executive Richard Gould has said.

Australia will host India at their Gabba stronghold in the four-test series with Perth missing out on a match in the lucrative tour.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar is to step down when his term ends this year, the governing body said on Wednesday.

Hosting the 2021 World Cup was a factor in deciding to push ahead with New Zealand's women's provincial competition despite financial issues, the head of women's rugby in the country has told Reuters.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirmed on Friday the women's national provincial championship would begin in August, ending concerns it might be cancelled because of COVID-19 cost cutting.

Resuming training is safer than visiting a supermarket, and some Premiership players and coaches are "finding all the reasons" to avoid returning to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter.

Major sports events around the world that are in the process of re-starting or which have been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Major sporting events in France will remain suspended for now until at least June 21, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Thursday. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Editing by William Maclean)

England lock Nick Isiekwe has joined Northampton on a season-long loan as part of his new four-year contract with Saracens, the Premiership Rugby club said on Thursday.

After two months of practising social distancing, the big men of the National Rugby League were back crashing into each other with muscular relish as professional team sport returned to Australia in Brisbane on Thursday.

World Rugby's Executive Committee has approved 10 optional law trials for member nations to implement to minimise the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus through player contact, the global governing body said on Thursday.

Women's sport might need a generation to get back recent gains if it is left "by the wayside" during the COVID-19 pandemic as organisations focus on getting men's competitions back on track, the head of a New Zealand women's advocacy agency told Reuters.

A sudden shortage of locks in Australian rugby has opened the door for Matt Philip to reclaim his Wallabies jersey but the Melbourne Rebel says the uncertainties wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic have left him with a difficult choice.

The John Deere Classic scheduled for July in Illinois, which was supposed to be the fifth event of the circuit's revamped schedule, has been cancelled due to state-related challenges regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA Tour said on Thursday.

Major sports events around the world that are in the process of re-starting or which have been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Golf's European Tour, suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume with the British Masters on July 22 as part of a six-tournament run in the United Kingdom, the tour's governing body said on Thursday.

The European Tour, suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume with the British Masters on July 22 as part of a six-tournament swing in the United Kingdom, the tour's governing body said on Thursday.

GOLF'S EUROPEAN TOUR TO RESUME ON JULY 22 WITH BRITISH MASTERS, TOUR'S CHIEF EXEC SAYS

The COVID-19 relief match featuring Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning proved a big success and Mickelson hopes it can become an annual event with the likes of basketball greats Steph Curry and Michael Jordan competing.

FORMULA ONE - Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine cools off during the free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says he is still confused that his love for playing golf has caused such a stir in Spain and questioned why other elite sportsmen are not criticised for playing the game.

World number one Rory McIlroy believes the Ryder Cup is unlikely to take place this year and postponing the biennial match play event to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic would be the right call to make.

SOCCER - England striker Gary Lineker grimaces as he does stretching exercises with his arm in a sling during the team's training session in Monterrey, Mexico ahead of their World Cup campaign.