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Shopify suspends financial outlook for 2020 over uncertainty from COVID-19

The Ottawa headquarters of Canadian e-commerce company Shopify are pictured on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Shopify Inc. says it is suspending its financial outlook for the year because of the uncertainty stemming from COVID-19.

The Ottawa-based e-commerce company says momentum in the first two months of the year will enable it to achieve first-quarter revenue and adjusted operating income that’s within or ahead of expectations.

Shopify will report results for the period that ended March 31 on May 6.

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The company says it has taken steps to support merchants and protect shareholders, including extended 90-day free trials to all new standard plan signups and local curbside pickup and delivery for merchants.

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Early signs from its analysis of how the novel coronavirus is affecting merchants’ operations indicates that brick-and-mortar businesses are pivoting to online with the dropoff in foot traffic.

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Shopify says it terminated thousands of merchants charging unfair prices or making false claims about COVID-19-related items such as face masks or hand sanitizers.

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