• U.S. government orders 300M coronavirus vaccine doses from Pfizer

    U.S. government orders 300M coronavirus vaccine doses from PfizerYahoo Finance’s Alexis Christoforous, Brian Sozzi, and Anjalee Khemlani discuss the latest coronavirus news with with Dr. Anand Parekh, Bipartisan Policy Center Chief Medical Advisor.

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  • U.S. orders closure of China’s consulate in Houston

    U.S. orders closure of China’s consulate in HoustonYahoo Finance’s Alexis Christoforous, Brian Sozzi, and Jessica Smith discuss the latest happenings in the U.S-China relations.

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  • Cruise Lines’ Booking Practices in a Pandemic Are ‘Astonishing’: CDC Official

    Cruise Lines’ Booking Practices in a Pandemic Are ‘Astonishing’: CDC OfficialSince the start of July, the major cruise lines have ramped up their public-facing efforts to safely resume sailing. Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean have co-founded a Healthy Sail Panel with experts across the medical, public health, and epidemiological fields. Carnival has teamed up with the World Travel and Tourism Council for a July 28 […]

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  • Ford unveils electric Mustang to take on Tesla

    Ford unveils electric Mustang to take on TeslaFord and RTR teamed up to bring the Mustang Mach-E prototype to life. The car has seven motors and can generate 1,400 horsepower.

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  • Investors see Trump at ‘severe disadvantage’ as coronavirus cases, Biden poll numbers soar

    Investors see Trump at 'severe disadvantage' as coronavirus cases, Biden poll numbers soarInvestors who once overwhelmingly expected President Donald Trump to be reelected have increasingly resigned themselves to the prospect of a Joe Biden presidency.

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  • U.S. Orders Up to 600 Million Doses of Pfizer, BioNTech Covid Vaccine

    U.S. Orders Up to 600 Million Doses of Pfizer, BioNTech Covid Vaccine(Bloomberg) — U.S. health officials agreed pay $1.95 billion for 100 million doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, the latest step in an effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic.The companies will receive payment upon the receipt of the doses, following regulatory authorization or approval, according to a statement. The government also can acquire up to an additional 500 million doses.Nations around the world have begun ordering vaccines that are still being tested as part of their efforts to try to blunt the impact of the pandemic that’s roiled economies and killed more than 600,000 people since the beginning of the year. The U.S. has already ordered experimental shots developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc.The vaccine would be available to the American people for free, according to the government. Pfizer shares rose more than 5% in pre-market trading. BioNTech climbed about 7%.(Updates with other orders in the third paragraph. An earlier version of the story corrected the number of doses.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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  • BlackBerry Announces Proposed Redemption of Existing Convertible Debentures and Issuance of New Convertible Debentures

    BlackBerry Announces Proposed Redemption of Existing Convertible Debentures and Issuance of New Convertible DebenturesWATERLOO, Ontario, July 22, 2020 /CNW/ — BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today announced that it has obtained consents from the beneficial owners of 88.39% of its outstanding 3.75% unsecured convertible debentures (TSX: BB.DB.V) (the “3.75% Debentures”) including Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and certain of its affiliates (together, “Fairfax”), to give effect to an extraordinary resolution (the “Extraordinary Resolution”) authorizing a supplemental indenture to permit the optional redemption of the 3.75% Debentures prior to November 13, 2020. The outstanding principal amount of the 3.75% debentures is US$605 million. BlackBerry intends to redeem the entire outstanding principal amount of the 3.75% Debentures on or about September 1, 2020 (the “Redemption Date”) at a redemption price of 101.6854% of the outstanding principal amount of the 3.75% Debentures.

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  • Pfizer, BioNTech Surge On US Gov Deal For 600M Covid-19 Vaccine Doses

    Pfizer, BioNTech Surge On US Gov Deal For 600M Covid-19 Vaccine DosesPfizer Inc (PFE) and BioNTech SE (BNTX) have agreed to provide the US government with 100 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162, after Pfizer successfully manufactures and obtains approval or emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The U.S. government will pay the companies $1.95 billion upon the receipt of the first 100 million doses, following FDA authorization or approval. The U.S. government also can acquire up to an additional 500 million doses.Shares in Pfizer are up 5% in Wednesday’s pre-market trading while BioNTech is up 6%.“Expanding Operation Warp Speed’s diverse portfolio by adding a vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech increases the odds that we will have a safe, effective vaccine as soon as the end of this year,” said Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary Alex Azar.Americans will receive the vaccine for free following the US government’s commitment for free access for COVID-19 vaccines.The BNT162 program is based on BioNTech’s proprietary mRNA technology and supported by Pfizer’s global vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities. The BNT162 vaccine candidates are undergoing clinical studies and are not currently approved for distribution anywhere in the world.BioNTech is the market authorization holder worldwide and will hold all trademarks for the potential product.The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine development program is evaluating at least four experimental vaccines, each of which represents a unique combination of messenger RNA (mRNA) format and target antigen. On July 1, Pfizer and BioNTech announced preliminary data from BNT162b1, the most advanced of the four mRNA formulations.The early data demonstrates that BNT162b1 is able to produce neutralizing antibodies in humans at or above the levels observed in the plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, and this was shown at relatively low dose levels. No serious adverse events were reported. On July 20, the companies announced early positive update from German Phase 1/2 COVID-19 vaccine study, including first T Cell response data.If ongoing studies are successful, Pfizer and BioNTech expect to be ready to seek Emergency Use Authorization or some form of regulatory approval as early as October 2020. The companies currently expect to manufacture globally up to 100 million doses by the end of 2020 and potentially more than 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.Shares in Pfizer are down 6% year-to-date, while BioNTech has exploded over 170%. Looking forward, analysts take a cautiously optimistic Moderate Buy consensus on both stocks. However, due to the recent rally, BioNTech’s average analyst price target of $60 now indicates 30% downside potential from current levels.Mizuho Securities analyst Vamil Divan has a buy rating on Pfizer and $38 price target (4% upside potential). That’s slightly under the stock’s average analyst price target of $41 (13% upside potential).“We had several discussions with investors today on the back of the initial data, with much of the discussion focused on the commercial potential for a successful SARS-CoV-2 vaccine” the analyst wrote.“The company has mentioned that it will look to price a potential vaccine in line with other commercially-available vaccines, suggesting to us a potential blockbuster commercial opportunity, depending on the vaccine’s clinical profile and the ultimate competitive landscape” he told investors, after the release of ‘encouraging’ early data. (See Pfizer stock analysis on TipRanks)Related News: NuVasive Spikes 5% After-Hours On Sharp Procedure Rebound Intuitive Surgical Delivers Strong Quarter; But Analyst Says Sell Now Is Novavax’s (NVAX) Super-High Valuation Justified? This Analyst Says ‘Yes’TopicsBIONTECHBNTXPFEPFIZERLatest NewsAMC Lenders Allege Debt Default Following Silver Lake Deal- Report14mEricsson, Deutsche Telekom Sign Multi-Year 5G Deal; Analyst Bullish On ERIC43mLockheed Martin Beats Quarterly Estimates, Raises 2020 Outlook1hCheck Point Profit Tops Estimates Fueled By Remote Work Push1hBest Buy Pops 5% On Strong Online Sales; Top Analyst Ramps Up PT1hUnited Airlines Gains in After-Hours Despite $2.6 Billion Quarterly Loss1hAlphabet’s Waymo Expands Chrysler Partnership To Driverless Minivans2hPhillip Morris Beats Quarterly Estimates3hSEE MORETipRanks BlogWhich Leading Financial Blog Has the Best Bloggers?July 16, 2020Nasdaq Trade Talks Interviews TipRanks CEOJuly 15, 2020Meet the TipRanks Team – Eyal Gershon, Head of Product and UXJuly 15, 2020SEE MOREMore ArticlesAMC Lenders Allege Debt Default Following Silver Lake Deal- Report14 minutes agoEricsson, Deutsche Telekom Sign Multi-Year 5G Deal; Analyst Bullish On ERIC44 minutes agoLockheed Martin Beats Quarterly Estimates, Raises 2020 Outlook1 hour agoSEE MORE More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * AMC Lenders Allege Debt Default Following Silver Lake Deal- Report * Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom Sign Multi-Year 5G Deal; Analyst Bullish On ERIC * Check Point Profit Tops Estimates Fueled By Remote Work Push * Best Buy Pops 5% On Strong Online Sales; Top Analyst Ramps Up PT

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  • Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom Sign Multi-Year 5G Deal; Analyst Bullish On ERIC

    Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom Sign Multi-Year 5G Deal; Analyst Bullish On ERICEricsson (ERIC) and Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY) have announced an expanded partnership with a new multi-year deal to deploy the service provider’s 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) across Germany.Under the terms of the deal, several mobile sites will be upgraded to the latest 5G technology standard over the next few years using Ericsson Radio System products and solutions. The 5G deal is in addition to a multi-RAN agreement following modernization of Deutsche Telekom’s 2G, 3G and 4G radio networks over the past two years.ERIC’s Spectrum Sharing solution will also be deployed, allowing Deutsche Telekom to dynamically manage 4G and 5G traffic in its network through efficient use of existing spectrum, enhancing coverage, performance and mobility.Claudia Nemat of Deutsche Telekom AG commented: “We are pleased to have found a leading 5G supplier in Ericsson as a partner, who has also convinced us in the past in the modernization of our mobile access network. After the reliable and on-time modernization, the bar for the 5G roll-out in the antenna network is naturally also high.”As well as public mobile networks, the two companies also work closely together when it comes to equipping industrial companies with private mobile networks, so-called campus networks. Most recently, the partners jointly equipped individual BMW and Osram (OSAGF) plant sites.Deutsche Telekom, the largest telecom service provider in Europe by revenue, has seen shares climb by 9% year-to-date, while Ericsson has surged 34%. Looking ahead, ERIC scores a Strong Buy Street consensus, with Deutsche Telekom showing a slightly more subdued Moderate Buy consensus.Speaking for the bulls, Charter Equity’s Edward Snyder wrote on July 17 “COVID notwithstanding, 2020 is playing out well for Ericsson.” He made the comment after Ericsson reported a $0.03 beat for the June quarter on strong 5G demand in North America and China. Impact from COVID-19 was minimal in the June period while demand for 5G equipment was strong in North America and China.Management doesn’t provide financial guidance, but according to Snyder, conference call comments suggest September period (3Q20) revenue and EPS of $6.3B and $0.17 respectively, above consensus revenue and EPS estimates of $6B and $0.15.The analyst continued: “The lumpy nature of network rollouts makes revenue timing difficult to predict, but between the timing of deployments in China, the U.S. and Europe and changes in the competitive environment, Ericsson’s fortunes in 5G are improving and already off to a strong start in 2020.” (See ERIC stock analysis on TipRanks)Related News: Logitech Ramps Up Annual Profit Outlook As Q1 Income Leaps 75% Synaptics Snaps Up DisplayLink For $305M In All-Cash Deal Texas Instruments Provides Upbeat Sales Outlook; Top Analyst Sees 18% Upside More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Check Point Profit Tops Estimates Fueled By Remote Work Push * Best Buy Pops 5% On Strong Online Sales; Top Analyst Ramps Up PT * Alphabet’s Waymo Expands Chrysler Partnership To Driverless Minivans * Two Harbors Ends Management Agreement, Citing Material Breaches

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  • U.S. Makes Vaccine Deal; Covid Grips Asian Nations: Virus Update

    U.S. Makes Vaccine Deal; Covid Grips Asian Nations: Virus Update(Bloomberg) — The U.S. sealed a pact for an initial 100 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine Pfizer Inc. is developing with Germany’s BioNTech SE. President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. outbreak will probably get worse before it gets better.The coronavirus tightened its grip on the Asia Pacific region, with deaths reaching a daily high in Indonesia and infections hitting records in Hong Kong and Japan. Australia, once hailed as a virus success, also saw cases set a daily record.Aviation regulators in the European Union and Singapore are working together to establish health measures and facilitate a recovery of air travel.Key Developments:Global Tracker: Cases near 15 million; deaths pass 617,000Month into the outbreak, U.S. testing still isn’t rightNew York taxes will stalk those who fled pandemicPreschooler parents are facing tough choices as offices reopenU.K. oil industry at odds with government on mass testingSubscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on coronavirus cases and deaths.Tokyo Urges Stay-Home Weekend; Japan Cases Hit Record (8:10 a.m. NY)Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told residents to avoid unnecessary trips outdoors as much as possible during a forthcoming four-day weekend as the city’s running total topped 10,000 and new cases nationwide were reported to hit a new daily record. Japan’s capital had another 238 cases on Wednesday. The long weekend was originally scheduled to celebrate the start of the now-postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.Zimbabwe Imposes Curfew to Curb ‘Frightening’ Spread (7:46 a.m. NY)Zimbabwe imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew and warned of stiff penalties for people who break quarantine rules. The number of infections almost doubled to 1,713 by Tuesday, from 985 a week earlier, as deaths jumped by 40% to 26.U.S. Seals Deal for Millions of Vaccine Doses (7:13 a.m. NY)U.S. health officials agreed on an order as many as 600 million doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech, the latest step in an effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. government will pay the companies $1.95 billion upon the receipt of the first 100 million doses, following FDA authorization or approval, according to a statement, with an option to acquire up to an additional 500 million doses.Indonesia Has Record Daily Virus Deaths (5:16 p.m. HK)Coronavirus deaths in Indonesia hit a record daily high of 139 in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 4,459, official data showed on Wednesday. New cases jumped by 1,882 to 91,751.The world’s fourth-most populous nation has seen a surge in cases since June with the government relaxing some curbs in a bid to reboot the economy.Separately, a survey showed that two out of three Indonesians oppose continuing strict social-distancing orders. Bali, Indonesia’s most popular holiday destination, is pressing ahead with a plan to welcome back visitors.Hong Kong Warns of ‘Severe Moment’ (4:45 p.m. HK)Hong Kong reported a record 105 new local virus cases as the city’s “most severe” situation since the epidemic began prompted health officials to expand protection measures.Of the additional local cases, 63 were not linked to previous cases, according to data from the city’s health department on Wednesday. “I urge all citizens to stay in their homes and stop unnecessary outings,” Sophia Chan, secretary for food and health, said in a briefing.Masks will have to be worn in Hong Kong’s indoor public venues — including malls, shops, supermarkets, markets and building lobbies — from Thursday through Aug. 5, Chan said.Korean Workers Return From Iraq With Covid (4:22 p.m. HK)A total of 45 construction workers who returned to South Korea from Iraq last week have tested positive with coronavirus, Yonhap News reported, citing the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The chartered flight brought back 105 workers on July 14. Two military planes are due to head to Iraq on Thursday to repatriate 297 others.Iraq has recorded more than 97,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, while South Korea has kept its infection levels below 14,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.Russia Has Almost 6,000 New Cases (3:32 p.m. HK)Russia recorded almost 5,862 new cases in the past day, bringing the total to 789,190, according to data from the government’s virus response center. A total of 165 people died in the same period, lifting Russia’s death toll to 12,745.Russia’s daily case numbers peaked at about 11,700 in May and have been declining slowly since then, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.Osaka New Cases Record (3:14 p.m. HK)Osaka prefecture, Japan’s third-largest by population, found a record 120 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters at a press conference.Thailand to Extend Emergency, Allow Film Crews (3:03 p.m. HK)Thailand plans to extend its state of emergency by one month, to Aug. 31, while also allowing more foreigners to enter the country.Although borders remain closed to most foreign visitors, more than 100,000 migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos will be allowed to enter in the next round of easing. Film crews will also be allowed to enter, the Department of Tourism said.Taiwan Imposes Quarantine on H.K., Australia Travelers (2:40 p.m. HK)Travelers from Hong Kong and Australia will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine after Taiwan dropped them from its list of low to mid Covid-19 risk, the Centers for Disease Control said in a statement. Travelers from low-risk or mid- to low-risk areas can apply for a shorter quarantine period.Foreigners will be allowed to enter Taiwan for medical treatment from Aug. 1, provided they present relevant medical documents and negative test results for Covid-19. The foreigners must undergo a 14-day quarantine and get another negative test result before receiving medical treatment.Singapore, EU Aviation Regulators Working on Health Steps (2:26 p.m. HK)The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and European Union Aviation Safety Agency are working together to establish health safety measures and facilitate the recovery of air travel, according to a joint press release.Evotec Gets Contract to Develop Virus-Treatment Process (1:54 p.m. HK)The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a unit of Evotec SE a contract worth as much as $18.2 million to develop and manufacture monoclonal antibodies for treatment or prevention of coronavirus.India Death Tally Passes Spain’s (1:14 p.m. HK)India reported 648 new deaths Wednesday to take its total to 28,732, passing Spain to rank seventh globally in deaths, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University. The country already ranks third in the number of infections. Deaths in India so far have lagged the casualty rate seen elsewhere — aided partially by the country’s younger population mix — but fatalities are gaining momentum.New Zealand Near Maximum Size for Quarantine System (11:59 a.m. HK)New Zealand’s housing minister said the country can house about 6,900 people in 32 quarantine hotels, with no plans to boost that capacity in the near term. Occupancy of the hotels, currently at 44%, is projected to rise to 81% over next two weeks, Megan Woods said at a briefing Wednesday.A new arrangement linking passage to New Zealand to an available room will be in place from August, Woods said. Officials are giving each airline flying to New Zealand a rolling, 14-day quota of returnees to better align seat demand with the supply of quarantine rooms.Australia Sets Record for Cases (10:44 a.m. HK)Australia suffered its worst day of coronavirus infections, with Victoria state recording 484 new cases as a second wave threatens to derail the nation’s economic recovery.After initial success in containing the virus, Australia is battling a spike in Victoria, which has forced around 5 million people in Melbourne back into lockdown. The shutdown of the nation’s second-biggest city, which contributes about one-quarter of gross domestic product, could prolong the nation’s first recession in almost three decades.Singapore Looks to Resume Business Events (10:29 a.m. HK)Singapore is preparing for the resumption of business events such as meetings, conventions, exhibitions and trade shows as economic activities restart, according to a statement by the Singapore Tourism Board. STB has developed a risk-management framework for business events with as many as 50 attendees, based on strict safe management measures, according to Wednesday’s statement.A government minster said Singapore will step up enforcement of social distancing measures after more people gathered in public areas over the weekend.South Korea Has 63 More Cases, Biggest Gain in 2 Weeks (9:24 a.m. HK)South Korea reported 63 more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, raising the total tally to 13,879, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.Cathay Pacific in Pact With Airbus to Defer Jet Deliveries (9:08 a.m. HK)Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said it reached an agreement with Airbus SE to defer aircraft deliveries as part of its move to preserve cash amid slowing business due to the coronavirus pandemic.The delivery of A350-900s and A350-1000s will be delayed to 2020-2023 from 2020-2021, while A321neo deliveries will be changed to 2020-2025 from 2020-2023, the airline said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company is in advanced negotiations with Boeing Co. to defer 777-9 deliveries.Mexico Cases, Deaths Continue to Rise (8:22 a.m. HK)Mexico reported 6,859 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 356,255, according to data released by the Health Ministry Tuesday night. Deaths rose 915 to 40,400. The country has the seventh-most cases in the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.U.S. Says China Hackers Stole Secrets, Sought Virus Data (8:13 a.m. HK)The U.S. accused two Chinese hackers of working for Beijing to steal or try to steal terabytes of data, including coronavirus research, from Western companies in 11 nations — the second time in a week a foreign nation has been singled out for vaccine-related hacking.Japan Backs Dexamethasone as Coronavirus Treatment (7:23 a.m. HK)Japan’s health ministry approved the use of dexamethasone, a steroid, as second drug for coronavirus treatment, according to public broadcaster NHK. Meanwhile, the government will forgo lifting restrictions on large-scale events on Aug. 1, maintaining the cap of 5,000 people for the time being, Sankei reported.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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