Consumer staples stocks advanced nearly 1% at midday Thursday.
Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW) gained nearly 1% in recent trade.
On the flip side, the information technology sector struggled, shedding more than 2%.
WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) shares fell past 4% in recent trade.
The U.S. government has held off on adding more than 100 Chinese companies, including artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek and memory chipmaker CXMT, on a trade blacklist to avoid raising tensions with Beijing, Reuters reported Wednesday.The firms were flagged for inclusion to the Commerce Department's Entity List due to national security risks.According to Reuters, the U.S. government believes DeepSeek supported China's military and intelligence operations and tried to illegally access advanced U.S. chips through Southeast Asian shell companies.CXMT was similarly designated as a Chinese military company by the Biden administration but is yet to be added to the list, the report said.DeepSeek and CXMT did not immediately respond to requests for comment by.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
Zydus Lifesciences (NSE:ZYDUSLIFE, BOM:532321), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zara Merger Sub, has completed the acquisition of all outstanding shares of common stock of NASDAQ-listed Assertio Holdings, according to a Tuesday filing to the Indian stock exchanges.The purchase was done at $23.50 per share of common stock of the U.S.-based specialty oncology pharmaceutical company Assertio, as part of a merger deal amounting to a total consideration of $166.3 million on a fully diluted basis.After the completion of the merger, Assertio will be the surviving entity, in which all shares of common stock not tendered into the offer will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive cash equal to the $23.50 offer price per common share.Assertio will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, and its common stock will no longer be listed or traded on the Nasdaq, the statement said.
Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust (SGX:N2IU) priced SG$200 million worth of 2.530% fixed-rate senior green bonds due in 2033, according to a Tuesday filing with the Singapore Exchange.Shares of the trust were up nearly 2% in Wednesday's trading.The debt securities will be issued on June 25. Deal proceeds used to finance or refinance eligible green projects.OCBC and United Overseas Bank are the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners.