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THURSDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2006
The Lex Column:
*Drug rehabilitation - lower valuations coupled with improving fundamentals may be enough to persuade investors to dabble in the sector again. But they should still be on the lookout for nasty side-effects.
*US drugs market - no let-up on the pressure on companies to produce, and sell, more new drugs.
*Chinese equities - continuing liquidity, spiced up with industrial restructuring and currency appreciation, should ensure at least the early part of the year of the pig belies its name too.
Interview:
*Jacques Aigrain of Swiss Re (SWI.L).
Further news:
*Visions vary on the fortunes of property.
*How Japan's top daily is forcing a war reappraisal.
*Let there be light, say brewers.
*Bid talk lifts Dragon Oil (DGO.L).
The Tempus Column:
*Bids, failed drugs and big hopes behind year's winners and losers.
The Business Commentary Column:
*Share option rules: one burden regulator should not have lifted.
*Mr Green's first big test at HSBC (HSBA.L).
*Warren Buffett's flight of fancy.
*Curiouser and curiouser how John Lewis does it.
Further news:
*Tornado jet fighters are being scrambled on intercept counter-hijacker operations every month to check on commercial airliners flying into British air space, according to head of RAF.
*ICI (ICI.L) forces new year makeover as Akzo Nobel seeks to apply extra coatings.
*All change at Alliance Boots (AB.L) as health campaign helps to push up sales.
*Is Robbie Williams an angel for EMI (EMI.L)?
The Business Comment Column:
*Vodafone (VOD.L): from Asia with love, Bond avoids a tricky situation.
*Counting shoppers is big business.
*Revenue investigation spooks Vantis (VTS.L) shares.
Profile:
*Bob Gogel, Chief Executive of Liberata.
Further news:
*Vodafone's (VOD.L) Sir John Bond resolves conflict as fight over Hutchison Essar hots up.
*Tim Hughes of IG Index looks at how banks could be in focus next year.
*Flybe is planning to cut up to 250 jobs from the BA Connect workforce as part of the takeover of British Airways' (BAY.L) regional business.
The Outlook Column:
*It's not yet time to heed the prophets of doom. Markets are due one more good year yet.
The Business Analysis Column:
*Brokers bullish despite warnings of economic slowdown.
Further news:
*Tesco (TSCO.L) hits back at critics with new public relations offensive.
*Intercontinental (IHG.L) in line for Middle East buyout.
Interview:
*Richard Harpin, Chief Executive of Homeserve (HSV.L).
Further news:
*Goldman Sachs' top list of potential leveraged buyout stocks are CSR (CSR.L), Vanco (VAN.L), Michael Page (MPI.L), BA (BAY.L), GKN (GKN.L), Carphone Warehouse (CPW.L) and Persimmon (PSN.L).
*3i Group (III.L) among possible bidders for Severn Trent (SVT.L).
*Woolworths (WLW.L) enjoys Christmas goodwill.
*Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFU.L) said to be on the verge of announcing three major contracts.
No share news today
THE SUNNo share news today
COMMENT AND BID NEWS*Essar, the Indian conglomerate that holds a 33% stake in Hutchison Essar, has offered £5.6 billion for the rest of the company.
*PartyGaming (PRTY.L) to acquire the gaming assets if Empire Online (EOL.L) in a deal estimated at $40 million.
*Goldman Sachs raises more than £3.3 billion for its first dedicated infrastructure fund.
*Asset rich pub companies could face a fresh round of bids in the new year from private equity groups eager to cash in on the stable returns offered by converting into Real Estate Investment Trusts.
*NH Hotels of Spain acquires Jolly Hotels in Italy for £496 million.
*Companies raise £45.53 billion in Initial Public Offerings in Europe, about 33% of the funds raised through IPOs worldwide.
*Ls Netro Zed of Spain takes 52% stake in Monstermob (MOB.L).
*Bid battle for Swiss Group SIG (SHI.L) poised to intensify.
*Capcon (CPC.L) - talks with possible new backers terminated.
*Chaco Resources (CHP.L) amalgamates years one and two of Platanillo contract.
*Addworth (ADW.L) buys Partner Bryant for £50,000.
*Douglas Holding to purchase Buch and Kunst from Barclays (BARC.L) for undisclosed sum.
*South China Resources (SCR.L) to buy 53% stake in Zhunuvo copper project in Tibet.
*Procter & Gamble (PGM.L) and Inverness Medical form consumer diagnostics joint venture.
*Bonham Industries raises take in Laura Ashley (ALY.L) to 24.49%.
*Inion OY (IIN.L) sees axing 20-30 jobs as part of a cost-cutting plan.
*Sogecable and Vodafone (VOD.L) to launch mobile phone TV service.
*Timan Oil and Gas starts trading on AIM today.
*Last Night in New York the Dow closed at a record high of 12,510.60, up 103 points and the Nasdaq gained 18 points.
*US November new home sales up 3.4% to 1.047 million.
*US October new home sales revised up to 1.013 million from previous 1.004 million.
*Further disappointing US retail sale data for the 2006 Christmas holiday season have added to growing evidence of weaker consumer willingness to spend.
*Tensions mount in Najaf, Iraq, after US soldier kills Sadr supporter.
*Baghdad car bomb kills eight and wounds 10.
*UK commander calls for more resources and support for UK troops in southern Iraq.
*Higher borrowing to weigh on UK house prices in 2007, according to Propertyfinder.com.
*John Lewis has record pre-Christmas week with Boxing Day shoppers up.
*Shopping numbers of Boxing Day up 6.09% against prior year, according to Footfall.
*UK retailers report record trading and a good start to sales.
*Gazprom warms that its escalating price dispute with Belarus could disrupt supplies to Poland, Germany and Lithuania following an implicit threat by Belarus to stop the transit of Russian gas.
*The US dollar bill's standing as the world's favourite form of cash is being usurped by the five-year-old euro.
*Some of the biggest names in the private finance initiative risk being called before parliament's public spending watchdog if they do not disclose profits being made after the refinancing of PFI deals.
*US government warns that Virgin America must change its ownership and corporate structure before it can receive an operating certificate.
*Six bodies recovered from the sea after a contract helicopter carrying workers from Centrica (CNA.L) went down in Morecambe Bay.
*Concern on polar bears could signal sift in US policy on global warming.
*Thailand is considering a dramatic version of what constitutes a foreign company.
*US Securities & Exchange Commission makes U-turn over rules on executive bonuses.
*Office of National Statistics figures show almost £25 billion was withdrawn from British shares in 2006, more than the whole of 2005.
*Africa Union calls for Ethiopian forces to pull out of Somalia.
*Tin price hits 17-year high on Indonesian supply worries.
*AstraZeneca (AZN.L) triggers $20 million milestone payment to continue Targacept deal.
Compiled in association with HB PLC and WH Ireland Ltd
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