Profit much higher than forecast, raises distribution Pledges to broadly match result in 2024 despite easing rates Increases cash payout, introduces interim dividend MILAN, Feb 5 Reuters UniCredit stunned markets on Monday with a bumper 2023 profit which it said it would distribute entirely to shareholders, and pledged to broadly replicate it this year despite a […]

Feb 6 Reuters British challenger bank Virgin Money UK retained its annual profit margin forecast on Tuesday and said it had seen improvement in the mortgage market activity, with application volumes closer to prepandemic levels last month. Balances in mortgage, its biggest business, dropped about 0.7 in the first quarter ended Dec. 31 to 57.11 billion […]

Feb 6 Reuters Drugmaker Novartis AG said it will acquire MorphoSys AG, a developer of cancer treatments, for 2.7 billion euros 2.9 billion, adding a promising rare bonemarrow cancer treatment candidate to its portfolio. Reuters first reported on Monday that Switzerlandbased Novartis was in advanced talks to acquire MorphoSys, leading to the German biotech firm39;s shares surging more […]

OSLO, Feb 6 Reuters Swedish utility Vattenfall on Tuesday reported a fall in underlying operating profit for the fourth quarter, citing lower power prices, though its CEO warned market volatility would remain amid a lack of new generation. Underlying earnings before interest and tax at the stateowned energy group fell to 4.5 billion Swedish crowns […]

LONDON, Feb 6 Reuters Marks Spencer39;s food retail business built on 202339;s strong sales momentum in the early weeks of the new year, UK industry data showed on Tuesday. Market researcher NIQ said MS39;s grocery sales rose 11.6 in the 12 weeks to Jan. 27 yearonyear, second only to Germanowned discounter Lidl, where sales rose 13.2, as Britain39;s fastest […]