Fujifilm is in the picture as anti- flu drug is earmarked for ebola August 26, 2014 The Japanese government yesterday gave Fujifilm the go ahead to make an experimental anti-flu drug available for use on ebola patients. Favipiravir, developed by Fujifilm subsidiary Toyama Chemical, was approved as a flu treatment by Japan’s health ministry in March. It now seems to have potential applications for ebola treatment, too. Fujifilm is now involved in [...]
CWC acquires Grupo Sonitel August 26, 2014 LONDON-listed Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has acquired Panama-based Grupo Sonitel, an IT and telecoms business with clients in Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru, for $36m (£21.7m). CWC said the deal, which included an additional $5m contingent consideration, would help to boost business-to-business and business-to-government operations in the region.
Bunzl is hit by strong pound August 26, 2014 STRONG revenue growth was eliminated at international distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl in the first half of the year due to the strength of sterling, as it also continued its acquisition drive. The impact of the pound meant revenue growth was down one per cent, instead of being up seven per cent on a constant [...]
Amazon’s Twitch takeover puts tech deals at 14-year high August 26, 2014 Amazon's $970m (£585m) takeover of eSport video website Twitch on Monday pushed the value of global tech M&A (mergers and acquisitions) so far this year to $174bn, its highest level since 2000, according to industry data. Global tech M&A activity is up 54 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to [...]
Britain leads economic growth among biggest OECD countries August 26, 2014 THE UK’S economy is outstripping all other big rich countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said yesterday. Britain’s GDP grew by 3.2 per cent on the year to the second quarter – far faster than second placed US, which registered an expansion of 2.4 per cent. The strong growth puts the UK firmly [...]
Safe havens at risk of crunch August 26, 2014 ASSETS like gold and US government bonds could be vulnerable to a crunch as the recovery takes off, Blackrock warned yesterday. The so-called safe haven assets shot up in price in the crisis, and so could drop back as investors returned to riskier assets such as equities. “Gold and short – to intermediate – duration US [...]
UTV gets revenue kick from World Cup fans August 26, 2014 Northern Irish radio and television broadcaster UTV Media reported a 13 per cent jump in first-half revenue as its radio stations drew in fans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The company, which held radio rights to the finals, expects third-quarter revenue to grow three per cent, underpinned by improving economic conditions in the UK [...]
Private Swiss banks open up to more scrutiny August 26, 2014 SWISS bank Pictet published its financial results yesterday for the first time in its 209-year history. Three other banks in the notoriously secretive industry are also preparing to publish financial data in an unprecedented display of openness. The Swiss industry has come under enormous pressure from international regulators and tax authorities, who suspect private banks [...]
Stagecoach’s revenue grows August 26, 2014 TRANSPORT group Stagecoach yesterday reported “satisfactory” second quarter revenue growth across all its divisions. The Scotland-based group, which transports three million customers a day, also expected no change to adjusted earnings per share for the current year. The firm posted a 14.4 per cent increase in revenue growth for London bus operations for the period [...]
Advertising giant WPP need not fret over black swans – Bottom Line August 26, 2014 The sun, I hope, has finally made an appearance this morning, to remind us that – despite this week’s cold and wind and rain – we are still, technically, in summertime. There have been several common themes to the summer months of 2014. A constant stream of miserable data about the Eurozone economy, is one. [...]