-- （からのコメント要請に対するメルクの回答を追記） ロイター通信は水曜日、関係者の話として、ドイツのメルク（MRK）と日本の小野薬品工業が、インヒブリックス・バイオサイエンス（INBX）の実験的抗がん剤に関心を示していると報じた。この抗がん剤は80億ドル以上の価値があるとみられている。 関係者によると、インヒブリックスは、治療薬INBRX-106と、もう一つの実験的抗がん剤の共同スピンオフを検討しており、臨床試験が成功すれば、これら2つの抗がん剤の合計価値は90億ドルを超える可能性があるという。 インヒブリックスとメルクはの取材に対しコメントを控えた一方、小野薬品工業はコメント要請にすぐには応じなかった。 （マーケットチャッターのニュースは、世界中の市場専門家との会話に基づいています。この情報は信頼できる情報源に基づいていると考えられますが、噂や憶測が含まれる可能性があります。正確性は保証されません。）
Price: $112.63, Change: $+0.07, Percent Change: +0.06%
Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Monday, pulling away from crude oil prices, as weaker exports and a stronger local currency weighed on sentiment.Reversing the previous session's gains, the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives' May crude palm oil contract fell 0.66% to 4,487 Malaysian ringgit ($1,134.94) per metric ton. The June contract dropped by 0.96% to 4,521 ringgit/mt in midday trade.Malaysian shipments for the April 1-25 period reportedly declined 15.7% from a month earlier, according to cargo surveyors cited by Trading Economics.A stronger Malaysian ringgit, which rose against the US dollar by 0.28% on Monday, could further pressure exports as it makes them costlier.The recent drop in Malaysian shipments followed a 29.1% year-over-year rise in Q1 exports, as buyers advanced purchases due to the expected surge in shipping costs and as volumes of rival Indonesian cargoes softened due to higher export levies.Indonesia's move to raise its palm-based biodiesel blending to 50% from 40% beginning July 1 could further lift Malaysian exports going forward.The Malaysia Palm Oil Council said Indonesia's B50 program could absorb an additional 3 million metric tons per year of palm oil. Annual domestic consumption in Thailand could also increase by 350,000 metric tons as the country moves to B7 from B5, while demand in Malaysia could rise by 300,000 mt as the government raises its biodiesel blend to B15 from B10.Rising biofuel demand, elevated crude oil prices, and supply risks from the potential development of an El Nino weather trend will support palm oil prices, with the MPOC projecting them at around 4,500 ringgit/mt in the near term."However, further gains are likely to be capped by softer export demand amid inflation and weaker economic growth in key importing countries, alongside rising stocks as palm oil production gradually enters its seasonal peak," the MPOC said.According to Jim Teh, senior palm oil trader at Interband Group of Co., as cited by Bernama, palm oil prices could trade between 4,200 ringgit/mt and 4,300 ringgit/mt this week due to profit taking.
South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Systems (KRX:272210) posted first-quarter net loss attributable to shareholders of 55 billion won, swinging from an attributable net income of 27.9 billion won a year earlier, according to a Monday filing with the Korea Exchange.Sales were up 17% year over year to 807.1 billion won from 690.1 billion won.Shares of Hanwha Systems fell over 3% at market close.
SG Micro's (SHE:300661) attributable profit surged 107% to 123.7 million yuan in the first quarter from 59.8 million yuan in the year-ago period, according to a Monday filing with the Shenzhen bourse.Earnings per share at the integrated circuit manufacturer increased to 0.1975 yuan from 0.0965 yuan in the prior-year period.Operating revenue grew 39% year over year to 1.10 billion yuan from 789.6 million yuan.