EU watchdog gives nod to delaying financial reports due to epidemic

LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - Regulators should allow listed companies to delay their financial statements given the difficulty of completing audits on time due to the coronavirus epidemic, the European Union's markets watchdog said on Friday.

The European Securities and Markets Authority said national regulators should "apply forbearance powers towards issuers who need to delay publication of financial reports beyond the statutory deadline".

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Catherine Evans)