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  • AstraZeneca Secures FDA Approval for SAPHNELO Self-Injectable Pen in Lupus Treatment

    AstraZeneca Secures FDA Approval for SAPHNELO Self-Injectable Pen in Lupus Treatment

    AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new self-administered version of SAPHNELO (anifrolumab-fnia), allowing adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to use a once-weekly autoinjector alongside standard therapy.

    The decision is supported by findings from the Phase III TULIP-SC study, which showed that subcutaneous delivery of SAPHNELO significantly reduced disease activity compared to placebo in patients with moderate to severe SLE who were also receiving standard treatment. The safety profile aligned with that already established for the intravenous formulation.

    The treatment will now be offered as a 120mg weekly dose via the SAPHNELO Pen autoinjector or a pre-filled syringe for at-home use. Since 2021, SAPHNELO has been available as an intravenous infusion administered by healthcare professionals in clinical settings.

    Subcutaneous use of SAPHNELO has already been approved in the European Union and Japan, and regulatory reviews are ongoing in several other markets. The intravenous formulation is currently authorised in more than 70 countries for moderate to severe SLE, with over 40,000 patients treated worldwide.

    The TULIP-SC trial was a Phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 367 patients aged between 18 and 70 with moderate to severe SLE. Participants were evenly assigned to receive either a 120mg subcutaneous dose of anifrolumab or a placebo using a single-use pre-filled syringe.

    SAPHNELO is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets subunit 1 of the type I interferon receptor, inhibiting type I interferon activity. Under a revised agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY), AstraZeneca will pay a mid-teens royalty on U.S. sales of the drug.

  • Barclays And Other UK Lenders Cut Mortgage Rates Again as Competition Heats Up

    Barclays And Other UK Lenders Cut Mortgage Rates Again as Competition Heats Up

    Homebuyers and homeowners looking to remortgage benefited from another round of mortgage rate reductions last week, as major UK lenders continued to sharpen their offerings shortly after earlier cuts.

    Banks including Barclays plc (LSE:BARC), HSBC UK (LSE:HSBA), Santander UK (LSE:BNC), Skipton Building Society (LSE:SG52) and Virgin Money UK (LSE:91XR) all revised their mortgage deals, underscoring intensifying competition across the market.

    Data from Moneyfacts showed that the average two-year fixed homeowner mortgage rate stood at 5.83% on the morning of April 22, down from 5.87% the previous day.

    Santander implemented its second round of cuts this month, lowering rates by up to 0.25 percentage points from April 24, with the changes affecting first-time buyers, home movers and remortgaging customers.

    HSBC UK also updated its mortgage range after reducing rates the week before, introducing further cuts across products aimed at both new buyers and those refinancing.

    Meanwhile, Barclays and Skipton Building Society had already trimmed their rates earlier in the week, while Virgin Money applied reductions across both residential and buy-to-let mortgage products.

    What’s driving the changes?

    Mortgage pricing, which is closely linked to swap rates, has started to ease, allowing lenders to pass on some savings to borrowers.

    However, ongoing global uncertainty—including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—has continued to create market volatility and sustain expectations of relatively high interest rates, limiting the scope for more significant declines.

  • Rolls-Royce MT30 Chosen for Australia’s Mogami-Class Frigate Programme

    Rolls-Royce MT30 Chosen for Australia’s Mogami-Class Frigate Programme

    Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LSE:RR.) has secured a key role in Australia’s naval modernisation, with its MT30 marine gas turbine selected to power a new fleet of up to 11 general-purpose frigates. The decision follows Australia’s move last year to adopt Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class design to replace its current vessels.

    The Mogami-class already operates with the MT30 in Japanese service, and the Royal Australian Navy has confirmed it will use the same propulsion system for its own ships. The first three frigates will be constructed in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and delivered to Australia, with the initial vessel expected in 2029 and entering service in 2030.

    Alex Zino, Director of Business Development and Future Programmes, UK and International at Rolls-Royce Defence, said the company was “delighted to continue this long-standing partnership by powering their new general-purpose frigates with our MT30 engine” and added that Rolls-Royce was “pleased to support this collaboration between two nations that are combining capabilities to enhance the security across the region.”

    Alongside the MT30 turbine, the upgraded frigates will feature mtu Series 4000-based diesel generator sets from Rolls-Royce Power Systems, supplied through licensed partner Daihatsu InfinEarth, to provide onboard electrical power for multiple ship systems.

    The MT30 engine is designed, assembled and tested at Rolls-Royce’s Bristol facility and is already in use with several navies worldwide. These include the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigates, the United States Navy’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships and Zumwalt-class destroyers, as well as the Republic of Korea Navy’s Daegu and Chungnam-class frigates.

    The same engine is also set to power Australia’s Hunter-class frigates under a separate programme linked to the AUKUS framework, providing greater commonality across the Royal Australian Navy’s major surface fleet.

    Rolls-Royce noted that the MT30 is the world’s most power-dense marine gas turbine currently in service, offering strong performance margins, design flexibility and long-term efficiency and reliability.

  • Oil Climbs as U.S.-Iran Talks Break Down

    Oil Climbs as U.S.-Iran Talks Break Down

    Oil prices moved higher by more than 1% on Monday as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran lost momentum, while constrained flows through the Strait of Hormuz continued to tighten global supply.

    Brent crude futures gained $1.35, or 1.3%, to $106.68 a barrel by 04:53 GMT, after paring earlier gains of more than $2. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 95 cents, or 1%, to $95.35 a barrel.

    Both benchmarks recorded strong advances last week, with Brent up nearly 17% and WTI rising about 13%, marking their biggest weekly gains since the conflict began.

    Hopes for renewed negotiations faded over the weekend after Donald Trump cancelled a planned trip to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Pakistan.

    “President Trump’s recent post on Truth Social, urging to shoot and kill any Iranian boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside his claims of having full control over Hormuz, has continued to fuel elevated war premiums,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, analyst at Phillip Nova.

    Iran has largely shut the strait, while the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Shipping activity remains restricted, with Kpler data showing that only one oil products tanker entered the Gulf on Sunday.

    Goldman Sachs lifted its fourth-quarter oil price forecasts, projecting Brent at $90 per barrel and WTI at $83, citing reduced supply from the Middle East.

    “The economic risks are larger than our crude base case alone suggests because of the net upside risks to oil prices, unusually high refined product prices, products shortages risks, and the unprecedented scale of the shock,” analysts led by Daan Struyven said in a note on Sunday.

  • Gold Trades Sideways as Dollar Hesitates Amid Iran Tensions and Fed Watch

    Gold Trades Sideways as Dollar Hesitates Amid Iran Tensions and Fed Watch

    Gold prices held largely steady on Monday, moving within a narrow range as the U.S. dollar showed little clear direction. Investors balanced tentative hopes of easing tensions between the United States and Iran with caution ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting later this week.

    The metal found some support following last week’s sharp decline, with sentiment lifted by reports that Iran had submitted a fresh proposal to Washington that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

    Spot gold was broadly unchanged at $4,711.0 per ounce, while gold futures slipped 0.3% to $4,725.94/oz as of 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT).

    Other precious metals also showed limited movement. Spot silver was flat at $75.6975 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.5% to $2,023.54 per ounce.

    Stalemate persists in U.S.-Iran diplomacy

    Attempts to revive U.S.-Iran negotiations faltered over the weekend after Iranian officials departed Pakistan and Washington withdrew plans to send a delegation to Islamabad.

    Donald Trump said Tehran could reach out if it wanted to resume talks, reiterating that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons—an issue central to the conflict.

    Still, a report from Axios offered a degree of optimism, indicating that Iran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities.

    A key aspect of the proposal involves deferring discussions around Iran’s nuclear programme, which may prove difficult for U.S. officials to accept.

    Despite this, tensions remain elevated. A naval blockade is still in place, and Iran continues to restrict access through the Strait of Hormuz.

    The ongoing disruption has pushed oil prices higher, raising concerns about persistent inflation and the prospect of tighter monetary policy. In this environment, a firmer dollar has weighed on non-yielding assets such as gold.

    Federal Reserve decision in focus

    Attention now turns to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting, where policymakers are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged.

    Markets will be looking closely at the central bank’s economic outlook, particularly in light of uncertainty stemming from the Iran conflict.

    This meeting could be the final one led by Jerome Powell, whose term is set to end on May 15.

    Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh—Trump’s nominee to succeed Powell—told Congress last week that he has not committed to lowering interest rates. He is generally viewed as less dovish than investors had anticipated.

    Warsh’s confirmation now appears more likely after Republican Senator Thom Tillis withdrew his opposition, following the Justice Department’s decision to end its investigation into Powell—an inquiry that had drawn criticism for potentially pressuring the Fed to cut rates.

  • Bitcoin Slips After Failing to Break $80K; Focus Turns to Las Vegas Summit

    Bitcoin Slips After Failing to Break $80K; Focus Turns to Las Vegas Summit

    Bitcoin edged lower toward the $77,000 mark on Monday, giving up earlier gains as elevated oil prices and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty weighed on overall risk sentiment.

    The leading cryptocurrency was last down 0.7% at $77,581.7 by 03:04 ET (07:04 GMT), after briefly reaching an intraday high of $79,461.7.

    Momentum remains capped below the key $80,000 level, with repeated attempts to hold above $79,000 continuing to face selling pressure.

    Early Strength Reversed as Oil Remains Elevated

    Bitcoin’s initial rally followed a report from Axios suggesting Iran had presented a proposal to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, potentially pushing nuclear discussions to a later stage.

    The proposal, delivered via intermediaries, briefly lifted sentiment by raising hopes of restoring flows through the vital oil corridor.

    However, those gains faded as oil prices stayed near recent highs, reflecting lingering uncertainty over whether Washington would respond to the proposal.

    Earlier developments also weighed, after Donald Trump cancelled a planned diplomatic mission aimed at restarting talks with Iran, indicating that negotiations could instead take place over the phone.

    Bitcoin had previously found support earlier in the month, when easing tensions and ceasefire discussions helped revive appetite for risk assets.

    Bitcoin Conference 2026 in the Spotlight

    Attention is now turning to Bitcoin Conference 2026, which begins later Monday in Las Vegas.

    The event is expected to attract a large audience of investors, developers, and policymakers, with major announcements and keynote speeches often influencing short-term market direction.

    Historically, Bitcoin has shown heightened volatility around the conference period, often rising ahead of the event before experiencing profit-taking or consolidation.

    Central Bank Meetings Take Center Stage

    Markets are also closely watching key central bank meetings this week, particularly from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan, for signals on interest rate policy amid ongoing inflation concerns.

    The Federal Reserve is set to announce its decision on Wednesday, in what could be the final meeting chaired by Jerome Powell ahead of a widely expected leadership transition.

    Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan began its two-day meeting on April 27, with expectations that policymakers will keep rates unchanged while potentially signalling a rate hike in the months ahead.

    Crypto Market Snapshot: Altcoins Decline

    Among other major cryptocurrencies, Ethereum slipped 0.4% to $2,321.45.

    XRP dropped 0.8% to $1.42.

    Solana fell 1.1%, while Cardano and Polygon each declined 1.5%.

    In the meme token segment, Dogecoin eased 0.6%.

  • U.S.-Iran Deadlock Pressures Futures as Earnings Season Gets Underway: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street

    U.S.-Iran Deadlock Pressures Futures as Earnings Season Gets Underway: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street

    U.S. stock futures moved lower early Monday after Donald Trump scrapped plans to dispatch negotiators for renewed discussions with Iran, extending the standoff between Washington and Tehran. The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to support higher oil prices. Meanwhile, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is set to kick off a busy week of corporate earnings, including updates from major artificial intelligence players.

    Futures slip

    As of 03:30 ET, Dow futures were down 86 points, or 0.2%, while S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1% and Nasdaq 100 futures also declined by 0.1%. Markets are bracing for a packed week featuring a wave of earnings releases, key central bank decisions, and any developments tied to U.S.-Iran relations.

    Major indices had ended last week on a stronger note, supported by expectations that talks between the U.S. and Iran could resume and potentially lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, sentiment shifted after Trump cancelled the planned negotiations in Pakistan, signalling that the disruption to the key oil transit route may persist. He added that Tehran can “call me” because Washington holds “all the cards.”

    Oil rises amid ongoing tensions

    Uncertainty around the next phase of diplomacy remains a central focus for investors. Analysts at Vital Knowledge said that “there will probably be a million more Iran headlines” for markets to digest in the coming days.

    According to Axios, Iran has presented a new proposal to the United States aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending hostilities, and postponing nuclear negotiations. Despite this, supply flows through the passage remain constrained, pushing oil prices higher.

    Brent crude futures rose 2.4% to $107.87 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 2.3% to $96.58 per barrel.

    Verizon to lead earnings wave

    The earnings season begins in earnest with Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), which is due to report ahead of the market open. Consensus estimates compiled by Bloomberg suggest a decline of 89,169 retail postpaid subscribers. Adjusted EBITDA is forecast at $13.14 billion on revenue of $34.8 billion.

    Investors will be watching Verizon’s efforts to integrate its wireless and broadband offerings to drive subscriber growth, particularly following the expansion of its fiber footprint through the acquisition of Frontier Communications.

    In January, Verizon issued a positive outlook for full-year earnings and free cash flow, and announced its first share buyback programme in nearly six years.

    The week will also bring results from major technology names such as Alphabet and Microsoft, with markets closely focused on updates regarding their significant investments in artificial intelligence, seen as crucial to sustaining growth in the sector.

    Budget airlines seek government support

    A group of U.S. low-cost airlines, including Frontier and Avelo, is seeking $2.5 billion in government assistance in exchange for warrants that could convert into equity, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

    The figure reflects higher anticipated fuel costs, with projections assuming jet fuel prices will average above $4 per gallon for the remainder of the year. Discussions over a potential aid package are expected to continue in the coming days.

    Airlines globally have been under pressure from rising fuel costs, driven by supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions involving Iran.

    Bank of Japan decision in focus

    Attention is also turning to the upcoming policy decision from the Bank of Japan, which is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged following its April 28 meeting.

    The central bank is projected to hold its benchmark rate at 0.75%, marking a third consecutive pause after a rate increase in December. While markets had previously expected another hike, recent signals from policymakers have pointed to a more cautious stance.

    Uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict and its economic implications may encourage the Bank of Japan to adopt a wait-and-see approach, although it is still expected to maintain a relatively hawkish outlook and potentially raise inflation forecasts amid higher energy and shipping costs.

  • European Stocks Muted as U.S.-Iran Talks Stall: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Stocks Muted as U.S.-Iran Talks Stall: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets showed little direction on Monday as investors weighed the lack of progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran, raising concerns that disruptions to key oil supply routes could persist.

    By 07:02 GMT, the Stoxx Europe 600 was flat, while the FTSE 100 also held steady. Germany’s DAX advanced 0.3%, and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2%.

    Over the weekend, Donald Trump cancelled plans to send negotiators to Pakistan for renewed discussions with Iran, stating that Tehran can “call me” as the U.S. holds “all the cards.”

    The deadlock points to a likely continuation of shipping restrictions imposed by both sides in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage responsible for around one-fifth of global oil flows, despite the presence of a fragile ceasefire.

    However, Axios reported that Iran has put forward a fresh proposal to Washington aimed at reopening the strait, ending hostilities, and postponing nuclear negotiations.

    In company news, Nordex SE (TG:NDX1) jumped more than 9% in early trading after reporting first-quarter underlying earnings ahead of expectations.

    Meanwhile, Forvia (EU:FRVIA) announced the sale of its interiors division to Apollo for €1.82 billion, sending its shares up over 3%.

  • FTSE 100 Opens Mixed as Iran Floats Hormuz Proposal Ahead of Nuclear Talks

    FTSE 100 Opens Mixed as Iran Floats Hormuz Proposal Ahead of Nuclear Talks

    British equities opened with little direction on Monday, fluctuating between gains and losses as geopolitical uncertainty weighed on sentiment. Iran has put forward a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and de-escalate its conflict with the United States, though markets remain cautious as Washington has yet to indicate whether it will engage.

    By 07:14 GMT, the FTSE 100 was marginally lower by 0.01%, while sterling traded broadly flat against the dollar at 1.3542. In Europe, the DAX rose 0.3% and the CAC 40 gained 0.3%.

    According to Axios, Iran’s proposal—delivered to Washington through Pakistani intermediaries—would reopen the vital shipping route and either extend or make permanent a ceasefire, with nuclear negotiations postponed to a later stage.

    The initiative attempts to bypass a major sticking point, as divisions persist within Iran’s leadership over potential nuclear concessions, particularly in response to U.S. demands for Tehran to halt uranium enrichment for at least a decade and export its stockpile.

    The White House confirmed it had received the proposal but gave no indication of further engagement, stating the US “will only make a deal that puts the American people first.”

    Donald Trump is expected to chair a Situation Room meeting on Iran later on Monday with senior national security and foreign policy officials.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led a series of diplomatic efforts over the weekend, travelling between multiple capitals. He visited Islamabad twice, briefing mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, and relayed the proposal to Washington via Pakistan.

    He then travelled to Muscat for discussions with Omani officials regarding safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, before heading to St. Petersburg on Monday for talks with Vladimir Putin, focusing on coordination in response to the US-Israeli campaign.

    Trump signalled limited urgency, stating Iranian leaders “can come to us or they can call us,” after cancelling a planned Islamabad visit by his envoys. Meanwhile, CENTCOM reported that 38 vessels turned back from Iranian waters over the weekend.

    UK Roundup

    Close Brothers Group plc (LSE:CBG) joined Barclays plc (LSE:BARC), Lloyds Banking Group plc (LSE:LLOY) and Banco Santander (LSE:BNC) in accepting the FCA’s £9.1 billion car finance redress scheme without pursuing legal action, as remaining lenders faced a Monday deadline to decide their position.

    Intertek Group plc (LSE:ITRK) rejected a second takeover proposal from EQT AB, dismissing an improved £54-per-share offer—valuing the business at £8.3 billion—as insufficient. EQT has until 14 May to either formalise its bid or withdraw under Takeover Code rules.

    Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust plc (LSE:EWI) offered shareholders a tender exit ahead of Wednesday’s AGM, where activist investor Saba Capital—which holds more than 20% of the trust—is seeking to appoint three board representatives. The outcome of the vote remains uncertain.

  • Whitbread Shares Rise on Reported Details of New Five-Year Strategy

    Whitbread Shares Rise on Reported Details of New Five-Year Strategy

    Whitbread plc (LSE:WTB) shares gained around 2.5% on Monday following a report by The Sunday Times outlining elements of a new five-year plan ahead of the company’s full-year results later this week.

    According to the report, Whitbread is considering reducing its freehold property ownership to about 40%, down from roughly 50% currently. The proposed shift, alongside broader efficiency measures, could unlock approximately £1.5 billion in capital, which may be returned to shareholders.

    The reported strategy follows disruption to the company’s previous five-year plan, which was impacted by higher business rates introduced in last year’s UK budget, as well as potential pressure from activist investor Corvex.

    Analysts at Bernstein suggested the revised capital return target would fall slightly below the £2 billion goal outlined in 2024 but remain above the roughly £1.6 billion consensus estimate compiled by Bloomberg and higher than Bernstein’s own £1.3 billion projection.

    The firm also noted that increasing reliance on leasehold assets could lead to higher lease-related debt and costs, which may weigh on updated profit before tax expectations—though these factors were not detailed in the initial media report.