News Highlights: Top Company News of the Day
April 19 2018 - 5:30AM
Dow Jones News
P&G Strengthens Over-the-Counter Lineup With Merck KGaA Unit
Procter & Gamble agreed to acquire the consumer-health
business from Germany's Merck KGaA, in a $4.2 billion deal that
adds vitamins and food supplements to P&G's lineup of
over-the-counter medicines.
Big Brands Struggle to Raise Prices
Unilever and Nestlé struggled to raise prices in the first
quarter, illustrating how the world's largest consumer goods
companies are facing increasingly fierce competition.
Unilever Announces EUR6 Billion Buyback
Unilever reported a 5.2% drop in 1Q revenue due to adverse
currency movements and the impact of disposals but said it will
return EUR6 billion to shareholders.
Novartis Buoyed by Heart Drug
Swiss pharma giant Novartis said its first-quarter net profit
rose to $2.03 billion, boosted by drugs Entresto and Cosentyx.
Sky Profit Jumps 22%
Sky posted a 22% jump in its operating profit in the first nine
months of fiscal 2018 on a 5% rise in like-for-like revenue.
Nestle Posts Sales Rise, Confirms Outlook
Nestle said that broad-based growth boosted sales in the first
quarter, notably in its petcare and coffee businesses.
Pernod Ricard Sales Slip on Weaker Europe
Pernod Ricard said that third-quarter net sales fell slightly on
a modest decline in Europe but recommended raising its
dividend.
ABB Reports Profit Fall
Swiss engineer ABB reported a fall in its first-quarter net
profit despite slightly higher revenue.
US Growth Fails to Stem Publicis Revenue Fall
Publicis said that first-quarter revenue fell 8%, despite solid
growth from its North America business.
China: Qualcomm's NXP Deal Has 'Hard to Resolve' Issues
Antitrust regulator's initial pessimistic review of Qualcomm's
$44 billion purchase of NXP Semiconductors raises questions about a
critical deal for the American company and whether trade friction
with the U.S. is playing a role.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 19, 2018 05:15 ET (09:15 GMT)
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