The Market Report with Katie Pilbeam.
FTSE 100 edged higher, gaining 12 points to 7,589, despite more grim news on inflation. Mining giants Glencore, Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta topped the leader board offsetting a mixed update from Tesco.
Annual inflation reached a 30-year high of 7.0% in March, the Office for National Statistics reported. Increased fuel prices and energy bills were the leading contributors.
Tesco shares sank as it widened guidance for this year due to the difficult cost and inflation backdrop, which has become more challenging it said. Underlying profits were bang in line with expectations at £2.8bn.
GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to buy Sierra Oncology (NASDAQ:SRRA) for US$1.9bn to bolster its blood cancer business. The British healthcare giant will acquire the Californian biopharmaceutical company for 39% above Tuesday’s closing price per share.
Among the small caps, Immupharma shares shot up 59% as it declared a ‘significant milestone’ after the successful completion of a pharmacokinetic (PK) study of its lead asset Lupuzor, also known as P140. PK studies assess how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolises, and excretes a compound.
MaxCyte, an engineer of cell technology platforms, announced first-quarter revenues would rise by at least 70% to US$11mln. Amanda Murphy also stepped down as Chief Financial Officer, with Ron Hultz taking the position temporarily.
East Star Resources has identified 22 gold targets on the Apmintas licence in Kazakhstan after processing magnetic drone work conducted last year. Most of them are under just 10-30 metres of cover.