Tuesday newspaper round-up: Chinese growth, Sainsbury's, Siemens/Alstom

The coronavirus outbreak will have a “significant” impact on Chinese growth, economists have warned, with the “wildcard” of still unknown infections posing potentially serious risks for the global economy. Shares in Asia Pacific continued to fall on Tuesday in the wake of heavy losses at the start of the week which has seen the death toll from the outbreak in China almost double in two days to 105. - Guardian

Sainsbury’s has pledged to spend £1bn to become a carbon-neutral business by 2040, 10 years ahead of the government’s target for a net-zero economy. The supermarket chain said the 20-year programme would include cutting its carbon emissions, food waste, plastic packaging and water usage, while increasing recycling, promoting healthy and sustainable eating, and ensuring that its operations are net positive for biodiversity. - Guardian

The crisis on the high street could result in a fifth of all retail space disappearing, one of Britain’s biggest landlords has warned. British Land chief executive Chris Grigg predicted that the troubles facing bricks-and-mortar retailers were far from over, with the rise of online shopping putting much of the industry under existential threat. - Telegraph

The rail regulator has launched an investigation into the £1.1 billion-a-year railway signalling technology market, 90 per cent of which is in the hands of Siemens and Alstom. The Office of Rail and Road said it had opened an inquiry because the duopoly enjoyed by the two European industrial groups could mean that Network Rail was not getting best value for money at a time of unprecedented investment in railway and train technology. - The Times

Diverging from European food standards risks knocking quality and hampering choice on supermarket shelves, ministers have been told. An industry report has warned that the UK should give “careful thought” to any move away from the European Union rulebook after leaving the bloc. It calls for “time to adapt” to any changes imposed by trade deals. - The Times