Three AstraZeneca patents ruled invalid in Australia
5th Mar 2013 08:56
Drugs giant AstraZeneca has reported that the Federal Court of Australia has found three patents protecting the company's Crestor treatment to be invalid, after they were challenged by several pharmaceutical firms. The court's decision only affects the patent in Australia and does not have an impa
Read moreLondon close: Footsie hits new five-year high, Sterling slumps
13th Feb 2013 16:36
After a subdued start, London's FTSE 100 index finished with decent gains on Wednesday to set a new five-year high with analysts putting the strong performance down to the weaker pound. Sterling slumped today - down 0.82% against the dollar at 1,5534 - after the Bank of England said that inflation
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tullow Oil rises on strong set of results
13th Feb 2013 15:50
Oil and gas group Tullow rose strongly today after posting a four per cent rise in annual pre-tax profits on the back for strong sales and output. Pre-tax profits in 2012 totalled 1.11bn dollars, ahead of analysts' expectations. Irish building materials group CRH was one of the best performers on
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Feb 2013 07:41
Aquarius Platinum: Deutsche Bank shifts target price from 82p to 83p keeping a buy recommendation. AstraZaneca: JP Morgan cuts target price from 2970p to 2750p and retains an underweight rating. Avation: WH Ireland ups target price from 120p to 140p, while its buy recommendation is kept. Bellway:
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
6th Feb 2013 10:12
ARM Holdings: Investec ups target price from 900p to 940p, maintaining its hold recommendation. JP Morgan increases target price from 540p to 625p and retains a neutral rating. UBS moves target price from 900p to 930p, while its neutral rating is reiterated. Espirito Santo raises target price from 8
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
1st Feb 2013 07:55
Afren: HSBC shifts target price from 190p to 200p, while reiterating an overweight rating. Antofagasta: Exane BNP reduces target price from 1500p to 1350p maintaining an outperform rating. Antrim Energy: Westhouse Securities lowers target price from 70p to 65p and reiterates a buy recommendation.
Read moreLondon close: Stocks fall as focus turns to Friday's US jobs report
31st Jan 2013 16:41
Equities were extending losses on Thursday after yesterday's shock contraction in the States, as markets braced for another busy day on the economic calendar tomorrow. "Traders were unwinding positions earlier on January's phenomenal rally which sees major share markets at multi-year highs," said m
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: AstraZeneca hit by falling revenue
31st Jan 2013 15:48
Pharmaceutical titan AstraZeneca dropped after reporting that full-year revenue fell 15 per cent due to a loss of exclusivity on several brands. The company also said that it would not buy back any shares in 2013 "in order to maintain the flexibility to invest the business". Oil giant Royal Dutch
Read moreSector movers: Pharmaceuticals under the weather as AstraZeneca takes a hit
31st Jan 2013 15:04
The pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector was at the bottom of the pile on Thursday after a disappointing set of full-year results from AstraZeneca weighed on share prices. The company, which manufactures drugs to treat range of cardiovascular conditions, reported a 15% fall in revenue at consta
Read moreBroker tips: AstraZeneca, Diageo, Shell
31st Jan 2013 11:40
Panmure Gordon has kept its 'hold' rating and 3,000p target price for pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca after the firm's final results, saying that figures were not as bad as they could have been. "Overall Q4 2012 results were more resilient than expected, continuing the trend seen across the secto
Read moreLondon midday: AstraZeneca, Shell provide a drag on the Footsie
31st Jan 2013 11:36
A host of FTSE 100 heavyweights disappointed with earnings reports on Thursday morning, as market sentiment was still fragile after yesterday's shock economic contraction in the States. The world's largest economy shrank by 0.1% in the last three months of last year, a stark contrast to the 3.1% gr
Read moreBroker snap: Astra's results could have been worse, says Panmure Gordon
31st Jan 2013 09:16
Panmure Gordon has kept its 'hold' rating and 3,000p target price for pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca after the firm's final results, saying that figures were not as bad as they could have been. "Overall Q4 2012 results were more resilient than expected, continuing the trend seen across the secto
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 slips on mixed corporate earnings
31st Jan 2013 08:18
The FTSE 100 slumped in early trading on Thursday with heavyweight stocks AstraZeneca, Diageo, Shell and Vedanta providing a drag after disappointing the market with results. Stocks were also tracking US and Asian markets lower after yesterday's news that the US contracted in the fourth quarter of
Read more2012 revenue down 15 per cent at AstraZeneca
31st Jan 2013 07:04
Revenue fell 15 per cent in 2012 at biopharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca, according to an update published by the FTSE 100 company on Thursday morning. The company, which manufactures drugs to treat range of cardiovascular conditions, stated that the reduction in revenue reflected a loss of exclu
Read moreThursday preview: Barrage of FTSE 100 companies unveils results
30th Jan 2013 15:53
FTSE 100 companies are set to storm Thursday with a wave of financial results. UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will unveil its full-year statements. The drug company is expected to show a slump in revenues due to patent expirations. However, investors will be keen to hear what Astra's new Chi
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