Astrazeneca buys drug fast-track voucher for $95m August 22, 2019 Astrazeneca splashed out $95m today to get one of its drugs fast-tracked through the approval process in the US. The drugs giant said it had bought a so-called priority review voucher (PRV) from a subsidiary of Orphan Biovitrum, a Swedish pharmaceutical company. Read more: Astrazeneca faces setback in lung cancer trials The voucher gives Astra [...]
Worker from UK’s Hong Kong embassy reportedly detained in China over ‘prostitution’ August 22, 2019 The employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong who is being held in mainline China is being detained over involement in prostitution, China’s state-backed newspaper reported. China’s foreign ministry had confirmed yesterday that Simon Cheng had been detained in the border city of Shenzen, but had not provided any further details. Cheng had failed [...]
Sales plunge at fastest rate since financial crisis as UK retailers forecast trouble ahead August 22, 2019 Retail sales and orders have plummeted at their fastest since the financial crisis, according to a new survey that suggests optimism in the industry has plunged to a 10-year low. Read more: Laura Ashley drops into the red A report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has found that retail sales volumes and orders [...]
Tusk and Johnson to hold Brexit talks at G7 August 22, 2019 Donald Tusk and Boris Johnson are to hold a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit this coming weekend. The European Council President, who once said there was a “special place in hell” for “those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely” will meet the UK [...]
Shell boosts power business with £344m Aussie takeover August 22, 2019 Shell took another step to boost its electricity supply business as it bought Australia’s second-largest power company in a AU$617m (£344m) deal. The board of ERM recommended today that its shareholders vote for the deal, which represents a 43 per cent premium to its last closing price. Read more: Shell Energy to pay £390,000 after [...]
NMC Health share price soars 42 per cent on stake sale report August 22, 2019 Shares in FTSE 100 listed NMC looked healthy this morning as they rose by as much as 42 per cent after reports that two companies were looking to buy a major stake in the firm. The the 40 per cent stake is owned by two Emirati businessmen and could sell for $1.9bn (£1.6bn) to two [...]
Corbyn convenes Remainer alliance meeting August 22, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn will next week meet with leaders of various opposition parties, as well as senior backbench Tories, as the plan to block a no-deal Brexit gathers pace. The Labour leader has written to 10 MPs, including Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, Tories Dominic Grieve, Oliver Letwin, Guto Bebb and Caroline Spelman, and SNP Westminster [...]
Eurozone output beats expectations in August but economy remains weak August 22, 2019 The euro has climbed against the dollar after survey data showed private sector output in the Eurozone beat expectations in August. Read more: German manufacturing stays firmly in contraction mode in August The preliminary private sector purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a closely-watched gauge of the economy, scored 51.8 in August, up from 51.5 in July [...]
Burford executive accused of exchanging documents for sex tape in lawsuit August 22, 2019 A senior executive at Burford Capital has been accused of unlawfully trading “sensitive” documentas for a sex tape in a $91m (£75m) lawsuit in the High Court. The lawsuit marks the latest battle for the troubled litigation funder, which was subject to a short attack by US firm Muddy Waters earlier this month. Daniel Hall, [...]
Ted Baker finance boss bags Mulberry role August 22, 2019 Ted Baker’s finance boss Charles Anderson has quit after 17 years to join luxury bag brand Mulberry. Anderson will join Mulberry’s board as group finance director in early October, replacing Neil Ritchie who stepped down on 30 June. During his time at Ted Baker, Anderson played an active role in its international expansion and systems [...]