National Grid (LON:NG) said that New York regulators rejected its request to hike electricity charges, dealing another setback to its US business Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation.
Autonomy Corporation (LON:AU) has entered into what it said was a significant agreement with Verizon (NYSE:VZ) to license Autonomy's Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL) software.
Autonomy has also entered into a seven-figure agreement with a U.S. law firm to license Autonomy's IDOL software.
Autonomy also announced that its Japanese outfit has entered into the largest license agreement in the history of Autonomy's Japanese operations.
AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) has replied to the US Food and Drug Administration's complete response letter received for the ticagrelor (BRILINTA) New Drug Application on 16 December 2010.
“AstraZeneca remains confident in the NDA submission for ticagrelor and will continue to work with the FDA to progress towards the completion of the review of the NDA for ticagrelor,” said AstraZeneca.
International Power (LON:IPR) announced that on January 31, together with Mitsui & Co Ltd, it will repay US$395 million of debt secured on the IPM joint venture's interests in seven assets that were jointly acquired by the two companies as part of the Edison Mission Energy portfolio acquisition in 2004.
Associated British Foods (LON:ABF) released an interim management statement for the 16 weeks to 8 January 2011. The company said that trading performance during the period was in line with expectations as group revenues rose 10% year on year.
Rolls-Royce (LON:RR) has won long term maintenance support business worth $250 million from Cathay Pacific.
Hedge fund manager Man Group (LON:EMG) reported an outflow of US$1.1 billion in the quarter to 31 December, while funds under management rose from US$40.5 billion to US$68.6 billion.
Insurer Aviva (LON:AV) this week outlined plans to reduce hybrid debt by around £700 million in the next three years in a bid to boost returns for shareholders.
Land Securities Group (LON:LAND) released an interim management statement for the third quarter. The company achieved £11 million of lettings in total with a further £6.6 million in solicitors' hands.
Investec (LON:INVP) has completed the sale of Rensburg Fund Management Limited to Franklin Templeton Global Investors Limited (UK), a subsidiary of Franklin Resources, a global investment management organisation operating as Franklin Templeton Investments.
Pearson (LON:PSON) has raised its guidance for 2010, now expecting adjusted earnings per share to rise 16%.
"...we now expect to report continuing operating profits for 2010 of approximately £850 million, a headline increase of approximately 20%.
"We expect to report adjusted earnings of approximately 76 pence per share, an increase of approximately 16% on 65.4 pence in 2009, and ahead of our previous guidance of approximately 72 pence," said Pearson.
GlaxoSmithKline (LON:GSK) expects to record a legal charge for the fourth quarter of 2010 of £2.2 billion following an investigation into its diabetes pill Avandia, it was revealed today.
BT (LON:BT) said that Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of Save the Children International, is to join the BT Board as a non-executive director. Her appointment takes effect from 19 January 2011.
Experian (LON:EXPN) has acquired a majority stake in Techlightenment, a UK-based provider of social media marketing tools.