Latest news with #UK-centred
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Barclays Research Expects AI to Recast Global Supply Chains and Labor Markets
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In this year's edition of the Equity Gilt Study, Barclays Research analysts delve into the transformational power of AI, offering a long-term view on how AI-driven disruption and other structural forces are likely to shape the global economy in the years ahead. Beyond the technological shifts, analysts find that AI will accelerate major changes across supply chains, labor markets and the future of work. 'AI is already changing many aspects of the modern economy and financial markets and will continue to do so for years to come,' says Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Global Chairman of Research. "The end result promises to be fascinating – and most likely a net positive for the world at large.' The Geopolitics of Minerals and Minds Barclays Research highlights the strategic vulnerabilities created by the global reliance on a handful of countries for critical rare earth elements and skilled talent. Barclays analysts warn that this concentration threatens supply chain stability amid rising geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and climate-related shocks. AI and the New Skills Divide Drawing on eight years of data, Barclays analysts find that while AI's overall effect on employment remains modest, it is already reshaping expectations of skills and tasks, especially in higher-paid, white-collar roles. As adoption accelerates, the potential for broader macroeconomic effects continues to grow. AI's Market Divide Barclays analysts argue that the spread of AI could have far-reaching implications for investment returns, drawing parallels to past technological revolutions such as the post-WW2 revolution in durable goods, the rise of the internet in the 1990s and the data boom of the 2010s. AI could drive gains in equities, upward pressure on yields across the curve and a moderately stronger dollar. Deep Impact The sudden emergence of DeepSeek from China was a 'Sputnik moment' for the US and other developed markets, galvanizing a new wave of investment in AI infrastructure. Barclays analysts believe that the capital expenditure arms race has further to run, not least due to the vast computing power needed for emerging, multi-step workloads. Notes to editors: Barclays Equity Gilt Study is a flagship annual publication that combines market-leading macro analysis with a unique multi-asset dataset spanning over 100 years. It provides uniquely rich data and commentary on long-term asset returns in the UK and US. Data for the UK goes back to 1899, while the US data, provided by the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago, runs from 1925. About Barclays Investment Bank Our vision is to be the UK-centred leader in global finance. We are a diversified bank with comprehensive UK consumer, corporate and wealth and private banking franchises, a leading global investment bank and a strong, specialist US consumer bank. Through these five divisions, we are working together for a better financial future for our customers, clients and communities. The Investment Bank helps money managers, financial institutions, governments, supranational organisations and corporate clients manage their funding, investing, financing, and strategic and risk management needs.
News.com.au
22-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Health Check: In rude health, Alcidion shrugs off UK National Health Service reforms
Alcidion (ASX:ALC) chief Kate Quirke is sanguine about the pending merger of England's National Health Service (NHS) with the Department of Health and Social Care. Alcidion says the abolition of the UK NHS could create opportunities Ahead of being taken over, Mayne Pharma has flagged a strong full-year profit Global biotech IPOs surge – then stall This is a key plank of the new-ish Labor government's ten-year reform plan for the country's groaning health system. The revamp is significant for the UK-centred Alcidion, given it services current NHS trusts heading for the chop. One of the few ASX life-science plays to focus on the UK, Alcidion has developed software that manages patient flows and integrates data across multiple healthcare facilities. On an investor hook-up this morning, Quirke said the push for more productivity with fewer staff was likely to mean greater demand for Alcidion's digital platforms. Also, most NHS staff will transition to the mega department and the changes won't take place until 2027 'I see the opportunity increasing," Quirke says. "But we are waiting to see what the ten-year plan indicates in terms of where the priority areas are.' In rude health Meanwhile, Alcidion expects a full-year profit turnaround after posting March (third) quarter positive operating cash flow of $2.5 million. This is a turnaround on the December quarter deficit of $260,000 and $1.4 million of outflows a year previously. March quarter receipts came in at $13.1m, with new contracted sales of $48.8m. Of this, $11.5m is expected to be recorded in the current quarter. The new sales include a 'milestone' ten-year, $37.5m contract with the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust for a new electronic patient record platform. Given the company usually posts a strong fourth quarter, management has upgraded guidance to underlying full-year earnings of more than $3m, compared with a $4.58m loss for the 2023-24 year. The company expects revenue of at least $40m. Alcidion has been in intensive care in recent years, with slower than expected tender processes and lengthier procurement cycles. Unless the NHS reforms contain some hidden nasties, it's time for a discharge. Mayne Pharma looks to end its listed life with a bang Mayne Pharma (ASX:MYX) looks to be ending its listed life on a high, flagging a 100%-plus full-year profit improvement ahead of being taken over. The company today reported unaudited March quarter revenue of $86.8 million, down 11% year on year with an underlying loss of $3.4 million. But with improved trading relative to January and February, Mayne expects full-year earnings to come in at $47-51 million, a 105-123% improvement. For the first nine months of the year, revenue edged up 5% to $300 million and underlying earnings soared 116% to $28.6 million. The company cites strong growth in its women's health (contraceptive) franchise, up 23% and international (non-US) up 2%. This partially was offset by a 9% decline in its dermatology arm. But all three segments should gain in the full year. Mayne also announced a US$16 million purchase deal with the Nasdaq listed Sol-Gel Technologies, to exclusively license two dermatology products. Mayne is under a takeover offer from US dermatology house Cosette, which is offering $7.40 of cash per share in a scheme of arrangement. The scheme booklet is now due in mid-May, with expected deal completion in late June or early July. While the offer was at a 37% premium when unveiled in early February, some investors object that Cosette will enjoy too much upside from improved conditions. They will have their say at a scheme meeting in mid-June. Biotech IPOs flag after a stellar 2024 Global biotech listings soared to their highest level in three years in calendar 2024. That's the good bit: this year's activity to date has been dampened by the Trump-related regulatory and other uncertainties swirling around the sector. According to analysis house Global Data, 50 initial public offers (IPOs) were completed in 2024, with a total value of US$8.52 billion (up 68% on the 2023 tally of US$5.06 billion). This is the highest value since 2021, when 180 deals worth US$34bn were executed. The value of US$100 million deals doubled in 2024 to US$7.88bn, led by the US$2.48bn IPO of the Swiss dermatology company Galderma. 'While cautious, investors are showing interest in companies with strong clinical data … and a shift towards more advanced stage biopharmaceuticals,' Global Data opines. Trends are more off the pace this year to date, with US$2bn of deals done. Last year, only three life sciences companies listed on the ASX. They were utism tester Blinklab (ASX:BB1) in April, as well as ReNerve (ASX:RNV) (nerve repair) and Vitrafy Life Sciences (ASX:VFY) in November. This year, the only one on the horizon is the delayed listing of cosmetic injectables group Stormeur. The developer of a rapid point-of-care test for group B streptococcus in pregnancy, Nexsen Biotech last year undertook a pre-IPO funding round. But no appearance yet, your Worship. Post-election Reserve Bank rate reductions might help to crank up the pipeline, but investors don't have the appetite for risk. Broker applauds Clarity on program Broker Canaccord applauded Clarity Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:CU6) pre-Easter decision to lighten up on its nuclear medicine programs. Culling an overly busy rota of trials, Clarity has prioritised its diagnostic and therapeutic programs for prostate cancer, in cases of patients expressing the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA). The company also will stress its program for neuroendocrine tumours. Clarity has closed its programs for paediatric high-risk neuroblastoma and low-PSMA metastatic prostate cancers. 'A good biotech undertakes scientific discovery to place the right asset in the right indication, but also knows when there is not enough evidence and commercial viability for the program to continue,' says Canaccord. Crucially, the reduced expenditure pushes the runway on Clarity's $106m cash balance out to June next year. The firm values Clarity at $6.74 on a sum-of-the-parts basis, an 8% reduction on its previous assessment. On an unrisked basis, the valuation increases to $11.71 a share, but of course everything must go right.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 cheap FTSE shares I'm considering before next month's ISA deadline!
With 5 April's Stocks and Shares ISA deadline approaching, I'm building a list of the best cheap UK shares to buy. I don't need to actually purchase any shares, trusts or funds before next month's cut-off point. I merely need to park money in my ISA to make use of this tax year's £20,000 contribution limit. But with so many bargain stocks out there, I think waiting to strike could be a mistake. Here are three great shares from the FTSE 100 I think could be great buys for me to consider before they have a chance to re-rate. Standard Chartered's (LSE:STAN) share price has rocketed over the past six months. Yet at current prices, the bank still looks to me like a brilliant bargain. At £12.42 per share, it trades on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.4 times. This is lower than the corresponding readings of UK-centred FTSE 100 operators Lloyds and NatWest, and fails to reflect (in my opinion) the superior earnings potential that its focus on Asia and Africa provides. StanChart's price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.8 meanwhile, is below the widely regarded value watermark of 1. Economic turbulence in its key Chinese market poses some near-term danger. But I find the bank's ongoing resilience hugely encouraging (pre-tax profit rose 18% year on year in 2024, to $6bn). Aviva (LSE:AV.) meanwhile, offers excellent value based on predicted earnings as well as dividends. It's why the Footsie company's a key plank in my own UK shares portfolio. For 2025, it trades on a PEG ratio of just 0.1. At 541.8p per share, the company also carries a tasty 6.9% dividend yield. As with Standard Chartered, Aviva's share price has also enjoyed significant strength in recent months. More specifically, the financial services giant has surged on the back of February's forecast-topping trading statement for 2024. Strength across its British, Irish and Canadian divisions pushed operating profit 20% higher, to £1.8bn. With its Solvency II capital ratio at a healthy 203%, the business hiked the annual dividend 7% year on year. Market competition is severe and poses a constant threat to revenues. But I'm optimistic Aviva will deliver impressive long-term growth as demographic changes drive demand for its retirement and wealth products. WPP (LSE:WPP) carries much higher risk, in my opinion, than Aviva and StanChart. But at current prices of 610.20p I still feel it deserves serious attention. The communications agency trades on a forward P/E ratio of 6.9 times, while its corresponding PEG ratio's just 0.1 times. Finally, the dividend yield for 2025 is a mighty 6.5%. This impressive value reflects WPP's share price collapse following February's full-year financials. Weakness across North America, the UK and China meant like-for-like sales net revenues dropped 1% in 2024, to £11.4bn. It predicted corresponding sales would fall between 0% and 2% this year too. The FTSE firm's under pressure as the tough economic environment causes advertisers to scale back spending. But I think the long-term outlook for WPP remains robust, with its impressive scale and rising investment in digital marketing potentially putting it in the box seat for an eventual market upturn. I think it's worth serious consideration following recent price weakness. The post 3 cheap FTSE shares I'm considering before next month's ISA deadline! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Royston Wild has positions in Aviva Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Standard Chartered Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
