THE question of whether to stop shaking hands and hugging leads off our round-up of the top business stories this week.

Bournemouth Echo:

1. Dorset Chamber announced that as a precaution against the coronavirus, it was asking members to refrain from "direct contact" at networking events.

Bournemouth Echo:

2. Amigo - the Bournemouth company that lends money at 49.9 per cent annual percentage rate - was at the centre of another battle. Founder James Benamor quit the board and launched an attack on the business.

Bournemouth Echo: Waitrose will open a new branch in Finchley this year (Photo: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

3. The John Lewis Partnership announced a big drop in profits, leading it to cut its staff bonus to its lowest level since 1953 and close three Waitrose stores.

Bournemouth Echo:

4. Dorset scrap merchant Charles Trent has won permission for a £7.5million factory which will create 50 jobs.

Bournemouth Echo:

5. And a recycling and green energy business will be disposing of 15,000 tonnes of food waste each year, 35,000 tonnes of green waste and 3,500 tonnes of street sweepings after getting its contract with Dorset Council renewed.