A pioneering US firm that organises loans between family and friends is today being rebranded to reflect British billionaire Richard Branson’s involvement in the company.

Richard Branson’s Virgin empire could go public as part of a new strategy that will see the group act as a consumer-focused private equity investment firm, a report revealed today.

Uncertain US investors pushed stocks lower in a meandering session today as a key government jobs report failed to answer Wall Street’s lingering questions about the economy and interest rates.