11th Jan 2011 16:16
Bluetooth chip developer CSR is heading the TechMARK risers after it settled a patent infringement case with rival Broadcom. The shares rose strongly even though CSR has to pay $67.5m. CSR will pay an initial sum of $5m plus $12.5m for the next five years. Legal costs of $10m a year will be saved
Read more11th Jan 2011 06:39
Rather than Johnson & Johnson, the most attractive option for Smith & Nephew investors could be a straight take-out by the likes of the American pharmaceutical giant Merck at whatever price the board could wrest from a bidder. Speculative investors such as hedge funds, who would push for a deal, a
Read more10th Jan 2011 17:01
The top share index was firmly in negative territory at the close of trading, despite M&A excitement concerning Smith & Nephew The joint replacement specialist jumped more than 10% following reports it turned down a bid approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christmas. Sticking with
Read more10th Jan 2011 16:05
Shares in artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew have pressured the healthcare equipment and services sector higher after widespread reports that it rejected a bid approach from giant US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christmas. J&J is said to have offered about 750p per share, valuing th
Read more10th Jan 2011 14:20
Footsie moved sideways over the lunch time trading session. Mining stocks continue to weigh the blue-chip index down, but oil stocks provide some cheer. A decline in copper imports into commodity-hungry China sent prices for the red metal lower. Kazakhmys, which transports copper from its Kazakhsta
Read more10th Jan 2011 12:11
Shares remain rooted in negative territory in spite of a big jump from artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew following reports of an offer from Johnson & Johnson. Miners are holding back the top share index. A decline in copper imports into commodity-hungry China sent prices for the red metal
Read more10th Jan 2011 07:24
Shares in artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew soared more than 10% after widespread reports that it rejected a bid approach from giant US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christmas. J&J is said to have offered about 750p per share, valuing the knee joint maker at almost £6.7bn. The shares
Read more10th Jan 2011 06:42
The healthcare group Smith & Nephew has rejected an offer from its American rival Johnson & Johnson, it emerged last night. The offer is reported to have been pitched at exactly £1 more than the 650p S&N shares closed at on Friday and would have valued the group at almost £6.7bn. A company spokesma
Read more29th Dec 2010 17:01
Footsie did not stay above 6,000 for long and it ended the day down 13 at 5,996. A strong performance from mining companies, particularly those involved in gold, was not enough to offset a decline in banks, which are weak on worries over the debt issues facing the eurozone. Royal Bank of Scotland
Read more29th Dec 2010 12:56
Gold miners are heading higher on the back of concerns about the bond markets. African Barrick Gold is the best of the risers today alongside Randgold Resources. The US FDA says that testing and validation methods at Smith & Nephew's Tuttlingen plant in Germany violate rules. Banks are weak on
Read more29th Dec 2010 12:18
Footsie has failed to stay above 6,000 today and it has been heading downwards since just after 9am. Blizzards in the US are driving oil prices to a 26-month high above $91 a barrel. Heating oil prices in particular are rising. Royal Dutch Shell was one of the best performers this morning but it
Read more29th Dec 2010 12:17
There is little news from TechMARK companies today with many rises based on a handful of shares traded. Telecoms firm KCOM is higher after eight trades, all of which are purchases. The US FDA says that testing and validation methods at Smith & Nephew's Tuttlingen plant in Germany violate rules.
Read more29th Dec 2010 09:17
It's a quiet start to the shortened trading week with investors seeming content to wait until the real action picks up again next week. Weather continues to make headlines with this time the blizzards in the US driving up oil prices to a 26-month high above $91 a barrel. Heating oil prices in parti
Read more12th Dec 2010 15:33
Shares in energy giant BG Group hit a two-and-a-half year high at the end of last week after it gave an update on operations at its Tupi and Guara fields in Brazil. Based on the new resources estimates for these fields, the three floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels that are
Read more9th Dec 2010 13:08
Shares in The Innovation Group are recovering following Tuesday's results. The software and services supplier to the insurance sector has almost completed its restructuring. Loss before tax narrowed to £1.7m for the year ended 30 September 2010 from a loss of £19.8m previously. Revenues during t
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