Month: May 2015

The utility landscape is changing dramatically as power producers are downsizing, shutting down or idling their coal-fired plants. Bristol, VA-based coal miner, Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. ANR announced on May 22, 2015 that its operating affiliates have given notices to employees of the likely idling of Rockspring Development's Camp Creek Underground Mine and Processing Plant in Wayne County, WA […]

PPG Industries Inc. ’s PPG packaging coatings business declared that it will display its new generation spray coatings − Innovel HPS − for the interior of beverage cans at Cannex & Fillex Asia Pacific in Guangzhou, China, from Jun 1–4. PPG Industries will also showcase the entire Innovel line of coatings, which is specially designed to cater to the changing requirements for aluminum and steel beverage cans and ends. […]

In the 21st century, the U.S. is in the thick of a new arms battle in the Middle East, as increased sectarian fighting and proxy wars in Yemen, Syria and Iraq create new demand for advanced weapons and weapon systems. As we go through these unending global military commitments, we know who loses. […]

AstraZeneca plc AZN received disappointing news with Amgen AMGN announcing its intention to terminate the co-development and commercialization agreement with AstraZeneca for brodalumab due to safety issues. Amgen mentioned in its press release that the decision was based after safety concerns like suicidal ideation and behavior related to brodalumab were observed that could lead to restricted labeling, thereby affecting the commercial potential of the drug. With the termination of this agreement for brodalumab, AstraZeneca will be solely responsible for the development and submission of marketing applications for brodalumab in all territories excluding certain Asian territories like Japan, where Kyowa Hakko Kirin has rights to brodalumab […]

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company BMY announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency rendered a positive opinion recommending approval of oncology drug Opdivo for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following chemotherapy in adults. The European Commission generally takes the CHMP’s opinion into account while reviewing candidates and hence an approval might be on the cards. Last month, the CHMP gave a positive opinion on Opdivo for the treatment of advanced melanoma […]

In its weekly release, Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. BHI reported another fall in the U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the country) […]

With its good intention of sharing more profits with shareholders, the board of directors of Unum Group UNM hiked the company's quarterly dividend by 12% and approved a new $750 million share buyback program. The new dividend payout comes to 18.5 cents per share. […]

In the recent past, the slump in oil prices had guided markets over an extended period. The specter of the oil slump has receded now and this may well benefit several sectors. Fiscal second-quarter results of Canadian banks, scheduled for release this week, may well be among them. […]

Shares of Alere Inc. ALR reached a new 52-week high of $51.53 on May 22. The new high represents a strong one-year return of about 35%. […]

International-Matex Tank Terminals, a subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation MIC , announced the successful completion of refinancing of about $1.7 billion of long-term debt and revolving credit facilities. After a thorough review of the financial condition of International-Matex, leading credit rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Fitch have assigned investment grade ratings of BBB- with a stable outlook to the new issuance. The BBB- rating indicates that the issuer possesses adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments, but is susceptible to adverse economic conditions. […]

General Motors Co. GM is under pressure as the U.S. […]

Novo Nordisk A/S NVO announced that the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes three-year extension study on Saxenda has met its primary endpoint. The study was conducted in adults who were obese or were overweight with comorbidities and had prediabetes at baseline. We note that Saxenda is already approved in the U.S […]

U.S. chemical output flattened in April on mixed production results across the chemical producing regions – according to the latest monthly report from the American Chemistry Council ("ACC"). The Washington, DC-based chemical industry trade group said that the U.S. […]

Boston Scientific Corporation BSX recently presented initial data from its RESPOND Post-Market Study at EuroPCR 2015, Paris, demonstrating results in favor of its Lotus aortic valve system. Boston Scientific’s Lotus Valve system is a unique next-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) device that offers a precise valve placement treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis, at high risk of surgery. […]