1. GSK soars on Zantac ruling but litigation process likely to be lengthy
Pharmaceutical giants GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK), Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE), Sanofi SA and Boehringer Ingelheim received a boost today as a US court ruled that claims the heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer were not supported by scientific evidence.
2. Brace yourself: A pint and a pub meal is about to get (even) pricier
Two of Britain’s largest pubcos posted bumper sales figures in the past few days, but punters shouldn’t be surprised if the price of a pint and fish and chips skyrockets in the coming months.
3. FTSE 100 slides into negative territory at the close despite GSK rally
At the close, the UK's blue chip index had reversed course to finish in negative territory at 7,489 points for a loss of 0.4%.
4. Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition edges closer following 10-year Nintendo deal
Microsoft Corp has agreed to a 10-year rights deal with Nintendo for the Call of Duty franchise should its $69bln buy-out of Activision Blizzard be approved by regulators in the US and elsewhere.
5. Apple hails chip-maker TSMC's US$40bn US investment as a 'significant moment'
Computer chip giant TSMC is to more than triple its investment in a giant US plant to US$40bn in one of the largest foreign investments in American history in what Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) chief executive Tim Cook called a "significant moment".