Year: 2014

CHICAGO (AP) — For uninsured people, the nation's new health care law may offer an escape from worry about unexpected, astronomical medical bills. But for Stephanie Payne of St. Louis, who already had good insurance, the law could offer another kind of escape: the chance to quit her job.

(Reuters) – Stock futures on Canada's main stock index were little changed on Friday after data showed higher-than-expected retail sales and a slower rate of annual inflation. In her first press conference as chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen on Wednesday indicated that the first increase in rates could come in the first half of next year. The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s) TOP STORIES Private equity investment firm Onex Corp said it would sell The Warranty Group, a provider of extended warranty contracts, to an affiliate of TPG Capital Management LP for an enterprise value of about $1.5 billion. Silver Wheaton Corp reported a 47 percent fall in quarterly profit due to a decline in metal prices, but forecast slightly higher production for the current year.

By Ryan Vlastelica NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Friday, with major indexes on track for a week of strong gains, though geopolitical concerns remained in view as the tenuous situation in Ukraine continued. The biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War ramped up after U.S. President Barack Obama targeted some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest long-time political and business allies in response to Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. Russia retaliated with sanctions of its own against top U.S. politicians.

(Reuters) – Endocyte Inc said its experimental cancer drug, when used in combination with an approved treatment, improved survival rates without the disease worsening in a mid-stage study on patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. The trial tested the drug, vintafolide, in combination with a chemotherapy drug known as docetaxel in 199 patients who failed one prior treatment with chemotherapy.

(Reuters) – Biogen Idec Inc said on Friday it had won Canadian approval for its long-lasting hemophilia B drug Alprolix. Hemophilia B, a rare inherited disorder in which the ability of a person's blood to clot is impaired, affects some 4,000 people in the United States and roughly 25,000 worldwide. Biogen is developing the drug in partnership with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB. Traditional hemophilia treatments must be infused two to three times a week, while Biogen's drug needs to be administered only once a week or once every 10 to 14 days to protect against bleeding episodes.

LONDON (Reuters) – European regulators said on Friday they had recommended approval of new pills for hepatitis C and diabetes from Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly, respectively, and an injectable drug for ulcerative colitis from Takeda. Recommendations for marketing approval by the European Medicine Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) are normally endorsed by the European Commission within a couple of months. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Keith Weir)

Britain's Tesco has sealed a joint venture agreement with a unit of India's Tata Group that will see it invest $140 million and become the first foreign supermarket to enter the country's $500 billion pounds retail sector. Tesco said on Friday that following receipt of approval from the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board, it has entered into a deal with Trent Limited to form a 50:50 joint venture with the operator of the Star Bazaar retail business, Trent Hypermarket Limited (THL).

(Reuters) – Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday as investors awaited inflation and retail sales data. June futures on the S&P TSX index were up 0.28 percent at 0715 ET. CPI and retail sales figures are due at 0830 ET Banks led stocks higher on Thursday as investors bet on higher U.S. interest rates and a continuing recovery in the U.S. economy. In her first press conference as chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen on Wednesday indicated that the first increase in rates could come in the first half of next year. …

By Ryan Vlastelica NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Friday, with major indexes on track for a week of strong gains, though geopolitical concerns remained in view as the tenuous situation in Ukraine continued. The biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War ramped up after U.S. President Barack Obama targeted some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest long-time political and business allies in response to Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. Russia retaliated with sanctions of its own against top U.S. politicians. In another facet of emerging market concerns, Nike Inc late Thursday said growing pressures from weaker emerging market currencies would take a big toll on its profit in the current quarter.

By Eyanir Chinea CARACAS (Reuters) – While hemophilia sufferer Sergio Tovar lay in agony for five days at a hospital in Venezuela, his friends and family scoured hospitals and pharmacies looking for life-saving drugs. Eventually a cousin, Jenny Sequeda, helped find a substitute for the protein coagulant Tovar needs for his blood condition.