Pfizer steps up pressure on AstraZeneca
7th May 2014 12:00
Drug group Pfizer has stepped up the pressure on rival AstraZeneca to accept its 63bn pounds bid for the UK pharmaceutical company. Pfizer issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning emphasising the benefits of a potential tie-up between the pair. AstraZeneca has so far re
Read morePanmure expects another bid for AstraZeneca in coming weeks
7th May 2014 10:32
AstraZeneca (AZN) shareholders should expect a further bid from Pfizer to materialise in the coming weeks, according to Panmure Gordon which kept a 'buy' rating on the stock. AZN on Tuesday set out its defence against a takeover, saying its strong growth prospects and developing drug pipeline warra
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, Britain, Carphone Warehouse
7th May 2014 06:52
Vince Cable said he would not "rule out intervention" in Pfizer's 63bn pound bid for Astra Zeneca as he warned that the "future of the UK is a knowledge economy not a tax haven". The Business Secretary told the House of Commons that just as both AstraZeneca and Pfizer were "motivated by hard-headed
Read moreLondon close: Negative finish, weighed by Ukraine, Barclays, AstraZeneca
6th May 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 23.86 points at 6,798.56 - Barclays slumps after poor Q1 - OECD predicts 3.2 per cent growth in 2014 techMARK 2,792.09 -0.09% FTSE 100 6,798.56 -0.35% FTSE 250 15,938.69 +0.05% UK stocks ended the day in the red, dragged by developments in Ukraine and a poor performance by Barc
Read moreSector movers: Barclays and Astra drag banks and pharma stocks lower
6th May 2014 15:14
Banking and pharmaceuticals, two sectors which have performed well over recent weeks, were trading firmly lower on Tuesday with heavyweights Barclays and AstraZeneca providing a drag. Shares in Barclays were as much as 5% lower this afternoon after a much worse-than-expected drop in investment bank
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Persimmon leads housebuilders higher
6th May 2014 14:54
Persimmon led the UK housebuilders higher today, lifted by Barclays which increased its target price on the stock from 1,333.6p to 1,530p. In a report, Barclays said: "Against an improving backdrop, the recent sell-off of house builders warrants close attention. We see strong fundamentals: greater
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks pull back from two-month high
6th May 2014 11:54
- Barclays, Aberdeen, AstraZeneca, Balfour Beatty fall - Ukraine tensions continue to rise - FTSE 100 pulls back from two-month high - UK services PMI beats forecasts techMARK 2,798.81 +0.15% FTSE 100 6,811.35 -0.16% FTSE 250 15,928.23 -0.02% Falls from Barclays, Aberdeen, AstraZeneca and Balfour
Read morePfizer posts lower Q1 results amid Astrazeneca bid talk
6th May 2014 08:39
US drug group Pfizer reported lower first quarter revenue and income as speculation swirled about its contentious bid for British rival Astrazeneca. Pfizer said the loss of exclusivity on some products and the end of joint promotions had led to a 9% fall in reported revenue to a lower-than-expected
Read moreAstraZeneca sets out Pfizer defence, asks UK govt to stay impartial - UPDATE
6th May 2014 08:09
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Tuesday set out its defence against a 63bn pounds takeover bid from US rival Pfizer as it urged Britain not to take sides in the affair. AstraZeneca issued a strategy update highlighting "excellent growth prospects, a rapidly progressing pipeline and the future d
Read moreAstraZeneca wins FDA approval of Epanova drug
6th May 2014 07:48
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of Epanova, AstraZeneca's treatment for adults with the condition hypertriglyceridemia. The drug is designed to be used in conjunction with diet to reduce the level of triglycerides, the most common type of fatty acid found in blood. I
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small rise expected despite Chinese data, Ukraine
6th May 2014 07:40
UK investors are set to return in a fairly upbeat mood after the bank holiday weekend as they gear up for the latest macro data and are expected to shrug off disappointing Chinese economic figures coupled with the ongoing turbulence in Eastern Europe. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open ar
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: AstraZeneca, Pfizer
6th May 2014 07:32
The latest quarterly results out from Pfizer overnight revealed why it is so keen to acquire AstraZeneca. In recent times it has proved to be more nimble at purchasing rivals than at developing new drugs. The UK-listed outfit, on the other hand, is at the beginning of a Renaissance. Hence, in fact,
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Ukraine, AstraZeneca, Bank of England
6th May 2014 07:03
Heavy fighting erupted Monday around a pro-Russian separatist stronghold in eastern Ukraine, with dozens of casualties reported as the standoff between insurgents and the government entered a more dangerous phase. The fighting was the most sustained since acting President Oleksandr Turchynov first s
Read morePfizer considering all options in AstraZeneca takeover
6th May 2014 06:40
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has said that it remains open to a hostile takeover of AstraZeneca after its sweetened bid for the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker was rejected last week. After being asked whether Pfizer would take an offer directly to AstraZeneca's shareholders, Chief Executive Ian Read tol
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, Barclays, Mothercare
4th May 2014 12:49
Pfizer is preparing to put AstraZeneca in a "bear hug" by stating it will not increase its 63 billion pounds offer without getting a closer look at the UK company's drug prospects, the Sunday Times reported. The US giant will lobby Astra's shareholders to force it to enter talks and will also talk a
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