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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2016/dec/16/investors-await-manufacturing-report-for-clues-on-uk-economy-business-live
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Investors await manufacturing report for clues on UK economy - business live | Investors await manufacturing report for clues on UK economy - business live |
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8.40am GMT | |
08:40 | |
Drugs company Actavis scrutinised over price hikes | |
The UK’s Actavis is the latest pharmaceutical company to come under criticism from the competition regulator over sharply hiking the price of tablets. | |
Specifically, the Competition and Markets Authority says Actavis increased the price of life-saving hydrocortisone tablets by over 12,000%. It pushed up the annual cost to the NHS from £522,000 before to 2008 to £70m by 2015. | |
The tablets are used by people whose adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones, such as those suffering from Addison’s disease. | |
At the this stage, the CMA’s findings are provisional and no fine has been issued. | |
It follows the watchdog’s decision last week to impose a record £84.2m fine on Pfizer, after the price charged to the NHS for an anti-epilepsy drug was increased by up to 2,600%. | |
Read our full story on Actavis here: | |
8.20am GMT | 8.20am GMT |
08:20 | 08:20 |
FTSE climbs back above 7,000 | FTSE climbs back above 7,000 |
The FTSE 100 is up five points in early trading. | The FTSE 100 is up five points in early trading. |
So it’s a modest gain but takes the UK’s leading index of shares back above the 7,000 mark at 7,002. | So it’s a modest gain but takes the UK’s leading index of shares back above the 7,000 mark at 7,002. |
Following the excitement of the Fed rate rise and Bank of England policy meeting earlier in the week, markets across Europe are fairly steady. | Following the excitement of the Fed rate rise and Bank of England policy meeting earlier in the week, markets across Europe are fairly steady. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.21am GMT | at 8.21am GMT |
8.09am GMT | 8.09am GMT |
08:09 | 08:09 |
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. | Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. |
Close attention will be paid to the CBI’s December industrial trends survey at 11am today as it will provide a timely health check on the UK economy as 2016 draws to a close. | Close attention will be paid to the CBI’s December industrial trends survey at 11am today as it will provide a timely health check on the UK economy as 2016 draws to a close. |
Business surveys capture a more recent picture of economic activity than official data, but rely on a smaller sample size and tend to be more anecdotal. | Business surveys capture a more recent picture of economic activity than official data, but rely on a smaller sample size and tend to be more anecdotal. |
That said, economists and policymakers look to surveys for clues of where the official data might be heading. | That said, economists and policymakers look to surveys for clues of where the official data might be heading. |
The CBI’s manufacturing survey is expected to show a balance of -5% of firms reported a rise in orders in December, worse than November when it was -3%. | The CBI’s manufacturing survey is expected to show a balance of -5% of firms reported a rise in orders in December, worse than November when it was -3%. |
One of the issues in recent weeks however is that the official data has painted a weaker picture of the economy than business surveys. | One of the issues in recent weeks however is that the official data has painted a weaker picture of the economy than business surveys. |
Adam Cole, currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets, says: | Adam Cole, currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets, says: |
Today’s CBI manufacturing survey is worth watching in the light of the very weak October manufacturing output data which marked a poor start to the monthly indicators that will add up to Q4 GDP. | Today’s CBI manufacturing survey is worth watching in the light of the very weak October manufacturing output data which marked a poor start to the monthly indicators that will add up to Q4 GDP. |
The CBI survey has been less volatile than the manufacturing PMI recently and the consensus for the orders balance (-5) would be consistent with manufacturing out trending no better than flat. | The CBI survey has been less volatile than the manufacturing PMI recently and the consensus for the orders balance (-5) would be consistent with manufacturing out trending no better than flat. |
We will bring you the numbers and reaction as it comes in, as well as tracking all the main events through the day. | We will bring you the numbers and reaction as it comes in, as well as tracking all the main events through the day. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.11am GMT | at 8.11am GMT |