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Pfizer and Allergan abandon merger
US drug maker Pfizer confirmed on Wednesday that its $160bn agreement to buy Allergan has been abandoned by mutual agreement, after the US Treasury announced new measures to curb tax inversions.
JP Morgan upgrades CRH
The gloom hanging over emerging markets might be lifting on a 'tactical' basis, but the poor outlook for cement prices in that geography was set to drive a wedge between European building materials firms exposed to them versus those with a greater relative footprint in the US and Europe, JP Morgan said.
Nokia cutting 1,300 jobs in Finland, refuses to clarify global cuts
Mobile telecoms equipment group Nokia will axe 1,300 jobs at its Finnish base and refused to rule out further cuts globally.
US pre-open: Stocks seen touch higher ahead of FOMC minutes
US futures pointed to a marginally higher open on Wall Street, where investors will be shifting their attention to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting.
London midday: Stocks gain before Fed's meeting minutes
London stocks advanced on Wednesday as oil prices regained strength and investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes.
London-listed pharmas rally as Pfizer-Allergan deal collapses
Shares in pharmaceuticals companies Shire, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline rallied on Wednesday as investors bet that the termination of Pfizer’s agreement to buy Allergan might make the London-listed companies bid targets.
Retail price deflation eases in March, BRC-Neilsen data shows
Retail prices fell 1. 7% in March, completing three years of deflation as retailers wage war on the pricing front, but easing off from the fall the month before.
Botswana Diamonds begins 2016 drill programme
The board of AIM-traded Botswana Diamonds confirmed on Wednesday that its 2016 drill programme had begun.
Asia report: Markets mixed on oil rise, China data
Markets in Asia ended Wednesday mixed, despite rising oil prices and indications that China’s flagging services sector was picking up.
WhatsApp launches full encryption for all its users
WhatsApp, the messenger app owned by Facebook, has officially rolled out end-to-end encryption for its billion-plus users, meaning only the sender and receiver of a message or call will have access to its contents.
New car sales hit 17-year high but slowing growth causes worries
UK car sales in March reached levels not seen since 1999, with 5. 3% growth in the new car market, though growth in private new car registrations has slowed.
Numis raises Cranswick's target price after trading update
Cranswick’s target price was lifted by Numis to 2,202p from 1,900p after the food producer reported a pre-close trading update.
Panama Papers: Cameron still under pressure over father's offshore trust
UK Prime Minister David Cameron was still be being pressed on Wednesday about whether or not he had benefited from an offshore fund set up by his father, revealed in the Panama Papers documents leak.
Russia wants oil price to settle in $40-$50 range
Russia was eyeing up oil prices of between $40 and $50 a barrel on Tuesday ahead of a meeting with leading producers in Doha later this month.
UK Mail to deliver on profit targets despite revenue miss
After an eventful year, UK Mail Group said it would report lower revenues than expected but that profits would hit target.
Tullow Oil announces successful well appraisal in Barents Sea
Tullow Oil said on Wednesday that it has successfully explored and appraised the Wisting South & Wisting West appraisal well in the Barents Sea, offshore Norway.
London open: Stocks rise ahead of FOMC minutes
UK stocks gained on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting minutes which will provide more details behind the central bank’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged.
Europe open: Stocks in the black as oil rebounds
European stocks rose in early trade as oil prices rebounded and investors digested some encouraging data releases from China and Germany.
Glencore confirms sale of stake in agriculture unit for $2.5bn
Glencore has confirmed it has agreed to sell 40% of its agriculture commodities business to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for $2. 5bn (£1. 8bn) cash, potentially followed by a further sale of 20% more in the long-term.
Jeff Bezos defends Amazon's corporate culture in letter
Founder and chief executive of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, sent a letter to shareholders overnight on Tuesday, finally responding to a critical report on the online retailer’s corporate culture published in the New York Times.