The chief exectuive of mining giant Glencore said he has one eye firmly on the coronavirus outbreak while looking back on a year hampered by trade wars and low prices for its key commodities.

The business said the outbreak has already pushed down prices of some commodities as it swung to a loss for the first time in years.

"Looking ahead, in the short-term, we are closely watching coronavirus developments and potential scenario impacts on global growth and markets," said Ivan Glasenberg, the company's chief executive.

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The business saw its net income of $3.4 billion (£2.6 billion) in 2018 swing to a net loss of $404 million (£311 million).

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda), the preferred measure by many analysts watching the business, fell 26% to $11.6 billion (£8.9 billion).

However, Glencore's marketing business finished the year on a brighter note, Mr Glasenberg said.

Its operating profit, $2.4 billion (£1.8 billion), was in line with 2018.

It came as an "excellent performance from oil and a stronger second half metals' contribution, helping to offset the cobalt headwinds experienced in the first half".

Alongside its results, the business also said it is ahead of emissions-cutting targets. Its scope one and two emissions, those that the business itself is directly responsible for, will have fallen by 10% by the end of 2020, compared to 2016 levels.

This is ahead of its 5% reduction target. It promised to announce new scope one and two targets in 2020.

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The company said it is monitoring the coronavirus outbreak, and has reflected the disease's spread in its guidance for the financial year.

The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally approved Bottomline's takeover of Experian Payments Gateway.

The CMA launched an in-depth probe into the acquisition, saying it was concerned that the merger might have reduced competition and caused prices to increase.

Following the analysis, investigators concluded that it is unlikely to raise competition concerns.