Sunday newspaper round-up: Balfour Beatty, Canary Wharf, Vodafone
30th Nov 2014 15:25
Balfour Beatty could be broken up as John Laing Infrastructure Fund considers a billion-pound bid for the company's investment arm, the Sunday Times reported. John Laing is interested in bidding for Balfour's 60 private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. It would leave Balfour with a business worth
Read moreAstrazeneca and Amgen hail success in psoriasis treatment trial
26th Nov 2014 08:03
A clinical trial of a psoriasis treatment by partners Astrazeneca and Amgen met its primary endpoints, the pharmaceutical companies announced on Wednesday. AMAGINE-1, a pivotal, multi-arm Phase III trial evaluating two doses of brodalumab in over 1,800 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psorias
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to open higher early on
24th Nov 2014 07:41
A small gain is predicted for UK stocks at Monday's opening bell, with City sources predicting the FTSE 100 will open around 10 points higher than Friday's close of 6,750.76. Markets jumped on Friday after a surprise interest-rate cut from the People's Bank of China in an attempt to avert a sharp sl
Read moreAstrazeneca COPD treatment granted marketing authorisation in Europe
24th Nov 2014 07:06
Astrazeneca's Duaklir Genuair drug has been granted marketing authorisation by the European Commission for the treatment of adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The approval of Duaklir was based on efficacy and safety data from more than 2,000 patients in 11 clinical stu
Read moreSix-month cooling-off period comes to an end for Astrazeneca and Smith & Nephew bidders
23rd Nov 2014 14:28
This week will see the end of the six-month cooling-off periods that followed the takeover bids made for healthcare groups Astrazeneca and Smith & Nephew. This means that their respective suitors will once again have the opportunity to put in another offer. Stryker, the US orthopaedic group that e
Read moreFitch downgrades AstraZeneca's long-term debt rating
21st Nov 2014 17:09
British drugs giant AstraZeneca's risk profile is increasing as it invests in research and development (R&D), future growth and operational efficiency, even as patent expiries place pressure on its near-term sales and profits. Hence, ratings agency Fitch has downgraded its rating on the company's lo
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to rise despite further weak data out from China
18th Nov 2014 07:42
London's blue chips are expected to open on a positive note, despite further weak data out from China overnight. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 15 points higher than Monday's close of 6,671.97. "European futures are pointing to another positive start on Tuesday despite data over
Read moreAstrazeneca CEO 'delighted' with strategic progress
18th Nov 2014 07:11
Pharmaceutical group Astrazeneca has hailed the progress it has made on its strategy to deliver "sustainable growth and value through innovation". In a presentation to investors and analysts in London on Tuesday, the company is expected to update on its growth prospects and pipeline, saying it remai
Read moreThursday broker round-up.-Update
13th Nov 2014 10:21
AstraZeneca: JP Morgan raises target price from 3700p to 4100p, keeping its underweight rating. AVEVA Group: Barclays upgrades to overweight. Bellway: Credit Suisse raises target price from 1876p to 1905p and keeps a neutral rating. Bow Leven: Barclays shifts target price from 45p to 50p and retai
Read moreAstrazeneca sees success with psoriasis treatment
12th Nov 2014 07:13
Astrazeneca has reported positive results from the phase three trial of its psoriasis treatment, broadalumab. The drugs maker said the treatment, when tested on 1,800 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, was more successful in achieving total clearance compared to both its Stelara drug
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
7th Nov 2014 09:44
AstraZeneca: Deutsche Bank increases target price from 4100p to 4350p and reiterates its hold recommendation. AVEVA: Societe Generale reduces target price from 2250p to 2000p, while keeping its buy recommendation. Big Yellow Group: Citi raises target price from 470p to 540p and maintains its neutra
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Tate & Lyle, AstraZeneca
7th Nov 2014 08:44
Tate & Lyle has had a very difficult year with the two profit warnings. The reasons behind the downgrades are varied, ranging from cold weather in the US to a fire at the Singapore factory where its sweetener Sucralose is manufactured. In aggregate all of those negatives knocked £41m out of the comp
Read moreBroker tips: WM Morrison, Astrazeneca, M&S, Shanks
6th Nov 2014 13:00
Shore Capital has retained a 'hold' rating for supermarket group Wm Morrison after a mixed set of third-quarter results, saying that it is "critical" that trading improves over the pivotal Christmas period. "It is essential that the group trades much more robustly in the current quarter and then dis
Read moreAnalyst consensus points to a 'hold' at Astrazeneca, says Hargreaves Lansdown
6th Nov 2014 12:37
Upgrades to full-year guidance at pharmaceutical firm Astrazeneca may have reassured investors, but the average analyst still remains on the fence, according to Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers. It said that the analyst consensus opinion is currently pointing to a 'hold', with the share price having
Read moreAstrazeneca ups 2014 revenue and profit guidance
6th Nov 2014 07:39
Drug group Astrazeneca has increased its full-year revenue and earnings guidance after good performances by its flagship drugs in the third quarter. The group said 2014 annual revenue was now expected to increase in low single digits at constant exchange rates rather than its previous guidance for r
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