AstraZeneca suffers new Brilinta delay
17th Dec 2010 07:13
AstraZeneca has suffered another delay in getting US approval for its potential blockbuster blood-thinning drug Brilinta after the US Food and Drug Administration requested more information. The FDA issued AstraZeneca with a complete response letter requesting additional analysis of the data from a
Read moreLondon midday: Bid action boosts shares
6th Dec 2010 12:04
Shares are broadly higher, with bid activity in the mid-cap index helping to generate excitement. De La Rue has received a bid, the FTSE 250-listed banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Oberthur Technologies. Talk is the all-cash deal valued the UK company, also respons
Read moreLondon open: Bid speculation enlivens dull market
6th Dec 2010 08:47
The prospect of mergers and acquisitions activity is livening up an otherwise sedate opening session for London. De La Rue has received a bid, the banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Oberthur Technologies. Talk is the all-cash deal valued the UK company, also responsi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest gains in store
6th Dec 2010 07:35
It looks like London could recover much of Friday's drop, though bid activity should give the mid-cap index an extra boost. The FTSE 100 could add around 16 points, according to futures prices. De La Rue has received a bid, the banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Obe
Read moreAstra's Brilique gets EC green light
6th Dec 2010 07:03
The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation to AstraZeneca's Brilique blood thinning drug. The decision follows the positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on 23rd September and is applicable to the 27 Member States and the 3 European Economic Area c
Read moreAstraZeneca raided over generic concerns
3rd Dec 2010 15:30
Drugs maker AstraZeneca has admitted that its premises have been raided by EU competition regulators as part of an investigation into collusion to block the entry of cheaper generic drugs to the market. AstraZeneca is the only company to confirm that it has been raided but there were other compani
Read moreIncoming Whitbread boss takes another slice
17th Nov 2010 17:56
Whitbread's incoming chief executive Andy Harrison has continued signalling his commitment to his new employers, spending nearly £500,000 on shares in the hotel and coffee shop operator. He bought 29,439 shares at 1,685.74 a time and now has 161,673. Harrison, who used to be chief executive at eas
Read moreBroker tips: Astra, Admiral, FirstGroup
3rd Nov 2010 12:32
The recent share price weakness of drugs giant AstraZeneca has prompted Panmure Gordon to review the group's long-term prospects, and the broker has found plenty of "reasons to buy today". The broker notes the shares are 7.3% below the year-to-date peak in September and reckons the current share pr
Read moreBroker snap: Reasons to buy at AstraZeneca
3rd Nov 2010 11:09
The recent share price weakness of drugs giant AstraZeneca has prompted Panmure Gordon to review the group's long-term prospects, and the broker has found plenty of "reasons to buy today". The broker notes the shares are 7.3% below the year-to-date peak in September and reckons the current share pr
Read moreLondon close: Footsie takes small step back
29th Oct 2010 17:24
The movements of the FTSE 100 index appeared to be directed by a lackadaisical Grand Old Duke of York today, and the blue-chip index finished (more or less) neither up nor down. British Airways was lower even though it swung to a profit in the first half as the airline improved yields and cut costs
Read moreCPP non-exec buys back shares
29th Oct 2010 16:52
CPP non-executive director Peter Morgan has bought back all the shares he sold in June. The repurchase of 51,696 shares comes the day after the identity theft and credit card insurer released its interim management statement for the period since the end of June 2010. Morgan sold the shares for 2
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie returns to blue
29th Oct 2010 15:15
London has finally pulled itself back into the blue helped by a solid start on Wall Street after GDP numbers disappointed slightly. Over here, GfK NOP's consumer confidence index improved to -19 in October, confounding economists' expectations of a slide to -22 or even lower. The survey was taken b
Read moreLondon midday: Miners pull index lower
29th Oct 2010 11:52
Weak miners and a poor reception to results from British Airways have discouraged buyers generally, despite some encouraging news on the consumer confidence front. GfK NOP's consumer confidence index improved to -19 in October, confounding economists' expectations of a slide to -22 or even lower. T
Read moreLondon open: Slow progress for blue chips
29th Oct 2010 08:42
London has made modest early gains despite a poor session in Asia and unconvincing display on Wall Street overnight. British Airways is lower even though it swung to a profit in the first half as the airline improved yields and cut costs. It made a pre-tax profit of £158m in the six months ended 30
Read moreLondon pre-open: Weakness overseas to weigh
29th Oct 2010 07:36
A poor session in Asia this morning and unconvincing display on Wall Street overnight aren't going to help London on Friday it seems. The blue chip index is set to open down around 12 points, with the Japanese Nikkei losing 2% after some disappointing earnings and on worries about next week's US Fe
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