PENDING HOME SALES UP BEFORE OUTBREAK

Americans BA LTIMOR E signed more contracts in February to buy homes, but the gains are likely relics of a moment before the coronavirus outbreak sent the U.S. economy spiraling into a likely recession.

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that its pending home sales index, which measures the numbers of purchase contracts signed, rose 2.4% in February from the prior month to 111.5.

Evolving Systems reports $1.4M 4Q loss.

» Evolving

E NGLEWOO D

Systems Inc. on Monday reported a loss of $1.4 million in its fourth quarter.

On a per-share basis, the Englewood-based company said it had a loss of 11 cents. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 9 cents per share.

For the year, the company reported that its loss narrowed to

$9.7 million, or 80 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $25.8 million.

Lufthansa puts 27,000 workers on short hours.

FRANKFURT, GER» German airline MANY

Lufthansa is putting 27,000 of its 35,000 employees on short hours under a government support program that will ensure they get most of their pay while the virus outbreak reduces air traffic.

Under the agreements, the airline will use a government program that pays 60% of the salary of employees, 67% for those with children, and the company will top them up to up to 90% of net salary.

Long-standing U.K. restaurant chain goes bust as sector reels.

ON» Well-known LON D food and retail chains in Britain are calling in bankruptcy administrators and struggling to pay bills after the government ordered shops and restaurants closed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Carluccio’s, a restaurant chain that served Italian fare in the U.K. for the best part of three decades, said Monday that it had gone into administration, a form of bankruptcy, less than two weeks after the government shut down all restaurants in the face of the pandemic.