Pennon Group Issues Update On Bristol Water Merger – Quick Facts

Pennon Group PLC (PNN.L) said the Competition and Markets Authority or CMA will launch a consultation on the undertakings put forward by Pennon with respect to the merger with Bristol Water. It is expected to conclude by 7 March 2022.

Pennon Group noted that the Competition and Markets Authority considers there are reasonable grounds that the undertakings offered by Pennon might be accepted by the CMA under the Water Industry Act 1991. If the undertakings are accepted by the CMA, the merger with Bristol Water will be cleared without reference to a phase 2 review.

XP Power Projects 2021 Adj. Operating Profit To Be Modestly Below Lower End Of Market View

XP Power Limited (XPP.L) reported that its fourth quarter revenue was 58.8 million pounds, up 4% year-on-year, or down 1% as reported, slightly down on the Board’s expectations. Orders were up 65% at constant currency and 58% as reported to 88.6 million pounds.

For fiscal 2021, revenue were up 10% on a constant currency basis, or 3% as reported, to 240.2 million pounds. The company said the increase was primarily driven by the Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment sector. Full year order intake was up 43% at constant currency.

The Group now expects 2021 adjusted operating profit to be modestly below the lower end of current market expectations. The Group said the current range of analyst expectations for adjusted operating profit is 46 million pounds to 48 million pounds.

The Group said the recommended dividend for the fourth quarter of 2021 is not expected to be less than 36 pence per share, representing a minimum total dividend of 94 pence per share for the year.

Tesla Hikes FSD Price By Another $2,000

EV maker Tesla, Inc (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company has decided to increase the price of Full Self-Drive feature by another $2000. The feature already costs around $10,000 at the moment.

Musk tweeted: “Tesla FSD price rising to $12k on Jan 17.”

The recent hike will mean that the service will cost the owners almost $9,000 more than its first launch back in 2016 when it came out at $3000 added to another $5000 for “enhanced autopilot.”

Back in 2019, the listing of Uber on the exchange was immediately followed by a hike in the price of FSD where Musk painted a picture of FSD supported Tesla vehicles will do the work while the owners will rest. Musk even went as far as to call Tesla an “appreciating asset” as a Tesla will be able to earn more than $30,000 per year.

It has not always been a hiking story as well. Earlier in 2019, Musk reduced the price of FSD to $5000. For those who have already paid $3000 for “enhanced autopilot”, FSD would cost another $2000. And from April 2019 to October 2020, the price jumped to $10,000.

However, the feature is still in its Beta stage and far from being perfect. The road safety agency has already filed a complaint against the company for its “Full Self-Drive” feature that has caused 17 injuries and at least one fatality in 11 crashes due to software issues. More recently, the company has also faced other problems with its FSD system as the latest update was activating the emergency braking system automatically.

Illumina Shares Rise 8% On Agreement With Nashville Biosciences

Shares of biotechnology company Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) are up 8 percent on Tuesday’s trading after the company announced a multi-year agreement with Nashville Biosciences, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center or VUMC to accelerate medicines development via large-scale genomics and the setting up of a pre-eminent clinico-genomic resource.

By using Illumina’s next-generation sequencing platforms, scientists and researchers will be able to better identify disease associations and targets for intervention by analyzing data.

Currently, at $394.12, the stock has traded between $341.03 and $555.77 during the past 52 weeks.

Apple Says More Than $260 Bln Paid To Developers Since App Store Launch

Tech giant Apple Inc. said it has paid out more than $260 billion to app developers since the App Store’s launch in 2008. This includes $60 billion paid in 2021, as the payment to developers as of 2020 end was $200 billion.

In the latest holiday season alone, App Store customers spent more than ever before between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, driving double-digit growth from last year.

In a statement, the company said the significant number sets a new yearly record for App Store developer earnings from selling digital goods and services.

In June last year, Apple had said the App Store ecosystem facilitated $643 billion in billings and sales during 2020, a 24 percent year-over-year increase.

The company now said its technology coupled with the power of the App Store’s global platform connects businesses of all sizes with over 600 million people each week across 175 countries. During the pandemic, Apps and games became the essential source for the world’s most innovative and timely entertainment.

Millions of apps were downloaded from the App Store. Apple Fitness+ coached users to stretch, lift, lunge, and meditate their way to healthier days, while Apple News kept them informed of pivotal developments in the news and culture.

The new Apple Maps helped users re-explore the world. Apple TV+ streamed many originals, while Apple Arcade allowed to play hundreds of fun, new and classic games.

GHGA Recalls Chicken Salad Croissants For Undeclared Fish

Conley, Georgia – based GHGA, LLC is recalling 266 packages of Chicken Salad Croissants under Renaissance Food Group brand citing undeclared fish, an allergen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall involves Chicken Salad Croissants packaged in 7.8 oz. clear plastic clamshells, with UPC 8 26766 15578 1, and marked with Sell-by Date 01/04/22 on the front of the package. No other products or lots are affected by the recall.

The affected product was shipped to Kroger stores in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina on 12/30/2021.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the packages of the product may contain tuna salad instead of chicken salad, and fish is not declared on the label.

People who are allergic to fish may get serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product. However, the company has not received any reports of illnesses or injury related to the recalled product to date.

GHGA urged customers with any fish concerns or allergies to dispose of the recalled products or return to the store of purchase for a full refund.

In similar recalls citing undeclared allergens, New York-based Seviroli Foodsa Inc. in late December called back a pasta product, Aplenty Rotini with Plant Based Bolognese Meal Kit, due to undeclared milk. Dream Pops also recalled select lots of Dream Pops Bites products due to undeclared milk.