London afternoon: Downbeat banks hold back Footsie
17th Dec 2010 15:05
Shares remain uncertain as the weekend approaches, with banks holding the leading share index back amid continuing eurozone worries. Ratings agency Moody's has slashed its credit rating on Ireland by five notches to Baa1 from Aa2 citing concerns over banking liabilities and economic prospects. Me
Read moreBroker tips: AstraZeneca, Aggreko, Punch
17th Dec 2010 15:05
Panmure Gordon views AstraZeneca's latest setback as a significant buying opportunity, sticking with its forecasts and 'buy' recommendation. The drugs giant was issued with a response from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requesting additional analysis of data on Brilinta, causing a delay fo
Read moreSector Movers: Astra drags down pharma sector
17th Dec 2010 14:57
The pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector is the weakest sector Friday afternoon with AstraZeneca among the biggest fallers. AstraZeneca has tumbled after it suffered another delay in getting US approval for its potential blockbuster blood-thinning drug Brilinta after the US Food and Drug Admini
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: AstraZeneca disappointment
17th Dec 2010 12:58
AstraZeneca is the worst performer in the Footsie because the FDA has asked for more information about blood-thinning drug Brilinta. This represents a further delay is getting US approval for Brilinta. Gloomy comments by the Bank of England about potential bad debt provisions hit Royal Bank of Sco
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks retreat
17th Dec 2010 12:49
The leading index broke above 5,900 for a short time, but now finds itself stuck in the red as AstraZeneca and the banks offset gains in the property sector. The Bank of England has warned of more bad debt provisions for the banks and also expressed serious concerns for the bond markets if yields c
Read moreTechMARK movers: AstraZeneca blockbuster drug approval delayed
17th Dec 2010 12:22
AstraZeneca has slumped on the back of a further delay is getting US approval for blood-thinning drug Brilinta. The US Food and Drug Administration requested additional analysis of the data from a study of the effects of Brilinta (ticagrelor) on 18,600 patients in 43 countries compared with its mai
Read moreBroker snap: Astra's Brilinta setback shouldn't deter
17th Dec 2010 11:39
Panmure Gordon views AstraZeneca's latest setback as a significant buying opportunity, sticking with its forecasts and 'buy' recommendation. The drugs giant was issued with a response from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requesting additional analysis of data on Brilinta, causing a delay fo
Read moreLondon open: Flat start for blue chips
17th Dec 2010 08:43
London has started slowly despite the late gains on Wall Street overnight with some gloomy comments from the Bank of England unsettling the mood. The Bank warned of more bad debt provisions for the banks and also expressed serious concerns for the bond markets if yields continued to rise. Lloyds an
Read moreAstraZeneca 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
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