4imprint Group reports resilient 2025 performance amid volatility

Investing.com -- Japan’s Shionogi & Co (TYO:4507) said on Tuesday it would pay $2.13 billion for new shares in joint venture ViiV Healthcare, increasing its stake in the HIV drugmaker to 21.7% as U.S. drugmaker Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) exits its 11.7% stake.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- UBS outlined three Buy-rated European pharmaceutical and biotech companies positioned for growth in 2026, with critical upcoming clinical trials and product developments set to drive performance.

The investment bank said many companies faced thesis-changing Phase 3 readouts this year, with outcomes that could materially reshape valuations regardless of the broader macro backdrop. But UBS also warned that stocks in the sector could be volatile, given the nature of their ongoing trials.

Genmab

Genmab is UBS’s top pick in European biotech, with 2026 representing a pivotal year for the company. Three Phase 3 assets will have readouts that could address Genmab’s patent cliff in 2029 when Darzalex royalties expire. UBS analysts believe success in just two of these three assets would match peak operating profit from Darzalex. They express high confidence in rina-S Phase 3 trials for second-line and beyond ovarian cancer, along with optimism for Epkinly Phase 3 readout in first-line DLBCL. These developments could fundamentally transform Genmab’s equity story in 2026.

Genmab announced positive results from its Phase 3 trial for epcoritamab, which showed improved progression-free survival in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

UCB

UCB is UBS’s top choice in European specialty pharma, particularly for investors seeking a less binary risk profile. The bank projects continued strong growth for Bimzelx in 2026 and has high conviction regarding the Phase 3 head-to-head trial of Bimzelx versus Skyrizi in psoriatic arthritis, due in the second half of 2026. A successful outcome could accelerate prescription growth and upgrade peak sales forecasts as Bimzelx expands further into rheumatology, potentially creating positive effects for the overall brand.

In a recent development, UCB reported positive results from its Phase 3 study evaluating fenfluramine for the treatment of CDKL5 deficiency disorder.

Zealand Pharma

Zealand Pharma shows promise with its survodutide Phase 3 obesity trial, which UBS expects to report 15-20% weight loss with tolerability comparable to existing marketed drugs. For the Phase 2b ZUPREME-1 obesity trial, analysts anticipate petrelintide will show weight loss at the lower end of the 15-20% range, or slightly below, due to baseline differences from Eli Lilly’s eloralintide Phase 2b trial. Despite high conviction on these readouts, UBS notes Zealand currently attracts less investor interest amid reduced overall focus on the obesity treatment sector.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Metals & Mining, Financials and Materials sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.66%.

The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Summerset Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:SNZ), which rose 3.96% or 0.40 points to trade at 10.50 at the close. Meanwhile, DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) added 3.74% or 0.17 points to end at 4.72 and Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) was up 3.56% or 3.59 points to 104.48 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX:ARB), which fell 11.82% or 3.82 points to trade at 28.49 at the close. Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) declined 6.31% or 0.19 points to end at 2.82 and Austal Ltd (ASX:ASB) was down 6.20% or 0.53 points to 8.02.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 715 to 486 and 340 ended unchanged.

The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 2.12% to 10.84 a new 1-month high.

Gold Futures for February delivery was up 2.35% or 107.84 to $4,703.24 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 0.10% or 0.06 to hit $59.37 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.13% or 0.08 to trade at $64.02 a barrel.

AUD/USD was unchanged 0.43% to 0.67, while AUD/JPY rose 0.30% to 106.48.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.18% at 98.68.

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks fell on Tuesday, extending deep losses from the prior session as investors remained on edge over U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for Greenland. 

Japanese shares sank even as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she will dissolve parliament on Friday and hold a snap election in early-February– a move that could herald more fiscal stimulus in the country.  

A U.S. market holiday on Monday left Asian markets with few overnight cues, while Trump and his administration continued to push for a U.S. takeover of Greenland, keeping risk appetite largely subdued. 

Regional markets took fleeting support from Chinese gross domestic product figures, while the country’s central bank also left a key interest rate unchanged on Tuesday. 

S&P 500 Futures fell 1% in Asian trade, with investors remaining largely cautious towards U.S. markets.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 falls as Takaichi calls for snap election

The Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indexes lost about 1% apiece on Tuesday. 

Takaichi said on Monday evening that she will dissolve Japan’s lower house this week and hold a snap election on February 8. 

The election will largely see Takaichi seek more voter backing for fiscal stimulus, tax cuts, and a plan to increase defense spending. 

While Japanese markets had initially cheered the prospect of more fiscal stimulus, doubts emerged over just how Tokyo will fund this increased spending, sparking a sharp selldown in Japanese government bonds. 

Japan 10-Year crossed 4% and reached their highest levels in 27 years on Tuesday. 

Asian stocks spooked by Trump-Greenland spat 

Broader Asian markets all retreated as risk appetite remained strained after Trump said he will tariff European nations until they hand over Greenland.

Trump in a Monday interview also did not rule out the potential use of military force, leaving markets on edge, especially after a U.S. incursion in Venezuela earlier this year. 

European leaders broadly rejected Trump’s demands, while some nations also warned of retaliatory economic measures against the United States.

In Asia, China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes fell about 0.5% apiece, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 0.3%.

Mainland markets took limited support from Chinese gross domestic product data showing the economy met Beijing’s 5% growth target in 2025. Fourth quarter GDP showed growth slowing from the prior quarter. 

Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.6%, pressured by a near 2% drop in mining giant BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) after it clocked record-high iron ore production, but warned of lower realized prices on future sales of the commodity. 

South Korea’s KOSPI remained an outperformer, reversing early losses to trade flat near record highs. A rally in Hyundai had pushed the index to new peaks on Monday. 

Singapore’s Straits Times index was flat, while futures for India’s NSEI index fell 0.1%.