Market shares news today has seen Europe open higher on a cautious trade as investors look at US inflation data and the prospects of a Federal Reserve rate hike. However, online wine retailer N Brown has warned of a quarterly revenue shortfall. Also, soft drinks group Nichols said revenues increased in the 12 months ended December
Drug discovery company C4X announces appointment of Nick Ray as chief scientific officer
C4X Discovery Holdings PLC, the drug discovery company, announces the appointment of Dr Nick Ray as its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr Nick Ray leads the Company’s medicinal chemistry and structural analysis teams and brings more than 30 years’ experience leading key programs at large multinational pharmaceutical companies.
The Company has also signed an exclusive, global licence agreement with AstraZeneca, a major player in the healthcare industry, for $402 million in development milestones. This includes an oral therapy for inflammatory diseases, as well as a pre-clinical payment of up to $16 million.
Nick is a medicinal chemist by training, and has extensive experience in inflammation and respiratory diseases. Prior to joining C4XD, he held leadership roles in several pharma companies, including Chroma Therapeutics and Mereo Biopharma. He has led eight clinical programs.
Nichols Plc, a London Stock Exchange-listed soft drinks group, has revealed that revenues have increased by 14% in the first half of the financial year, despite the UK soft drink market declining by 4.3% in the face of inflation pressures. The company also said that its brand Vimto performed well in the UK in the context of the overall brand portfolio.
The company’s financials also show that its flagship brand, Vimto, continued to make progress in the international packaged route to market. However, the real news here is the Vimto’s performance in the UK, where it outperformed broader squash market growth, and the brand’s role in the company’s wider revenue picture.
Online wine retailer N Brown says quarterly revenues have slipped in the three months ended 31 December
The online wine retailer N Brown says its quarterly revenues have slipped in the three months ended 31 December. But it’s got a lot going for it, including a catalogue-based presence, and it’s also looking at expanding into the United States. And, it even has a new CEO.
The most obvious way to measure N Brown’s performance is by looking at the company’s latest full-year profit forecast. It’s still targeting 5.67 pence per share, despite a 3.2 percent drop in pretax profits. In October, the company warned that full-year profits would be smaller than expected, and it’s now putting more emphasis on growing its online business.
Windows Phone market shares divided into three communities
Windows Phone is one of the most popular mobile operating systems in the world. Aside from Windows based phones, Android and iOS also have a considerable foothold in the mobile device space. Nevertheless, Microsoft has a vested interest in winning the smartphone wars. The company has already partnered with a host of companies including Nokia, Lenovo and Gionee. However, with the recent layoffs at its Nokia unit, uncertainty has mounted.
As a result, Windows Phone shipments have dropped nearly 9% compared to a year earlier. Despite this decline, it is still on par with the best-in-class operating systems in terms of global market share. With the introduction of new smartphones such as the Microsoft Lumia XL, the company may have a shot at catching up to the iPhone in the high end of the market.
Lenders drove gains
In the quest for a more efficient balance sheet, many European banks are looking for growth opportunities elsewhere. The direct to consumer lending space is no different. Using sophisticated analytics and near-daily updates, indirect lenders are leveraging their considerable technological chops to trump the competition. A case in point is Bankinter’s burgeoning book of mortgages. During the first quarter of 2020, the lender boasted a healthy 5.7% year-on-year increase in its lending book.
In addition to its hefty book of mortgages, the company has managed to carve a larger slice of the home loan pie in recent years. Its newest crop of mortgage-savvy lending execs have boosted its net profit margins.
European shares open higher in cautious trade on Thursday as investors eye US inflation data
While the euro fell against the dollar, the British pound strengthened against the greenback. The market is looking ahead to the upcoming FOMC meeting where the Federal Reserve is expected to hike interest rates.
Inflation has cooled in the U.S. and that has fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve will slow its rate hikes. However, some policymakers continue to lean hawkish.
Investors are also watching the non-farm payrolls report for insights into the health of the labor market. Stronger-than-expected job numbers are expected to send the dollar and US Treasury yields higher. That could fuel speculation that the Fed is ready to tighten monetary policy.
