STERIS Q3 Profit Up

STERIS plc (STE) Monday reported third-quarter net income of $104.9 million or $1.23 per share, up from $47.9 million or $0.56 per share last year.

Adjusted earnings were $124.0 million or $1.45 per share, up from $107.2 million or $1.26 per share last year.

Revenues for the quarter increased 11% to $774.3 million from $696.2 million last year, with growth across all segments.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $1.42 per share and revenues of $748.45 million.

“Our performance this year has continued to exceed our expectations,” said Walt Rosebrough, President and Chief Executive Officer of STERIS. “Underlying Customer demand for our products and services remains strong. Based on our outperformance to date and expectations for the fourth quarter, we are increasing our guidance for revenue, earnings and cash flow for the full fiscal year.”

Looking forward to full year 2020, Steris expects adjusted earnings to be at the high-end of previously expected range of $5.50 – $5.65 per share. Analysts currently estimate earning of $5.57 per share.

Amazon hires Sony exec to run its entertainment business

Amazon.com Inc. has tapped a top Sony executive to oversee its entertainment operations.

Mike Hopkins, currently chairman of Sony Pictures Television and a former chief executive of the streaming platform Hulu, will join Amazon AMZN, +2.63%  later this month as a senior vice president in charge of its Prime video platform and its movie and television studios, Amazon said Monday.

The entertainment business at Amazon had previously reported to Jeff Blackburn, a senior vice president who said last year that he would take a sabbatical in 2020 to spend more time with his family and return to the company next year.

In Hopkins, Amazon gets an executive with a background running a streaming platform and a production entity. He is also well-versed in television distribution. Before his roles at Sony Corp. SNE, +0.11%  and Hulu, he was a senior executive at 21st Century Fox, where he ran distribution for its cable-network operations.

An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.

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BBB warning public to be careful with hearts and wallets when using online dating services

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning British Columbians to be careful with their hearts and their wallets when it comes to using online dating services.

The agency says it received more than 1,100 complaints in 2019 related to the services, the bulk of them relating to billing and collection issues.

“We saw where there was difficulty cancelling memberships,” said BBB spokesperson Karla Liard.

Argentina scratches planned bond sale, offers no explanation

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 10 (Reuters) – Argentina did not sell three peso-denominated bonds that had been scheduled for issue on Monday, the Economy Ministry said in a brief statement that did not offer an explanation for canceling the auction.

A source at the Economy Ministry declined to comment when asked by Reuters about the reason for scratching the sale.

The bonds had been expected to be due in 2021. The abandoned sale comes as the International Monetary Fund is set for talks later this week with government officials over Argentina’s plan for revamping about $100 billion in debt.

Contract awarded for new four-lane Pattullo Bridge replacement

The B.C. government has hired Fraser Crossing Partners to replace the aging Pattullo Bridge with a new crossing between Surrey and New Westminster.

The company came in with the province’s preferred contract and is committed to building the span for $967.5 million.

“People in the Lower Mainland depend on the Pattullo Bridge every day, and they deserve safe, easy, toll-free commutes,” B.C. Premier John Horgan said.

Sprint surges 60%, T-Mobile up 10% after-hours on report merger will be approved

Shares of Sprint Corp. S, -2.64% soared more than 60% in after-hours trading Monday after the Wall Street Journal reported its pending merger with T-Mobile U.S. Inc. is expected to be approved by a federal judge. Shares of T-Mobile TMUS, -1.07% rallied about 10% in extended trading. The Journal said the judge’s ruling, which would clear the way for the $26 billion merger, could be made public Tuesday. The tie-up of the nation’s third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers was agreed upon two years ago, but has been held up over antitrust concerns. The Journal said it was unclear if the judge’s ruling would include additional concessions to alleviate antitrust worries.

Macquarie Continues To Expect 2020 Results To Be Slightly Down

Macquarie Group Limited (MQG.AX,MQBKY.PK) said it continues to expect the Group’s result for fiscal year 2020 to be slightly down on fiscal year 2019.

But, the company said it remains well positioned to deliver superior performance in the medium term.

The company noted that trading conditions were satisfactory across the Group in the third-quarter ended 31 December 2019.

Net profit contribution for the nine months to 31 December 2019 up on the prior year, mainly due to: higher base and performance fees in Macquarie Asset Management or MAM; and continued volume growth partially offset by margin pressure in Banking and Financial Service or BFS.

MAM had assets under management (AUM) of A$587.5 billion at 31 December 2019, up five per cent on 30 September 2019.

China's Hubei dismisses provincial health commission party boss, director: state media

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, dismissed the provincial health commission’s party boss Zhang Jin and director Liu Yingzi, state media CCTV reported on Tuesday.

Wang Hesheng, a member of the provincial committee of the Communist Party in Hubei province who has served in the public health system for years, will take over their roles, CCTV reported.