P&G Strengthens Over-the-Counter Lineup With Merck KGaA Unit 
 

Procter & Gamble agreed to acquire the consumer-health business from Germany's Merck KGaA, in a $4.2 billion deal that adds vitamins and food supplements to P&G's lineup of over-the-counter medicines.

 
Big Brands Struggle to Raise Prices 
 

Unilever and Nestlé struggled to raise prices in the first quarter, illustrating how the world's largest consumer goods companies are facing increasingly fierce competition.

 
Unilever Announces EUR6 Billion Buyback 
 

Unilever reported a 5.2% drop in 1Q revenue due to adverse currency movements and the impact of disposals but said it will return EUR6 billion to shareholders.

 
Novartis Buoyed by Heart Drug 
 

Swiss pharma giant Novartis said its first-quarter net profit rose to $2.03 billion, boosted by drugs Entresto and Cosentyx.

 
Sky Profit Jumps 22% 
 

Sky posted a 22% jump in its operating profit in the first nine months of fiscal 2018 on a 5% rise in like-for-like revenue.

 
Nestle Posts Sales Rise, Confirms Outlook 
 

Nestle said that broad-based growth boosted sales in the first quarter, notably in its petcare and coffee businesses.

 
Pernod Ricard Sales Slip on Weaker Europe 
 

Pernod Ricard said that third-quarter net sales fell slightly on a modest decline in Europe but recommended raising its dividend.

 
ABB Reports Profit Fall 
 

Swiss engineer ABB reported a fall in its first-quarter net profit despite slightly higher revenue.

 
US Growth Fails to Stem Publicis Revenue Fall 
 

Publicis said that first-quarter revenue fell 8%, despite solid growth from its North America business.

 
China: Qualcomm's NXP Deal Has 'Hard to Resolve' Issues 
 

Antitrust regulator's initial pessimistic review of Qualcomm's $44 billion purchase of NXP Semiconductors raises questions about a critical deal for the American company and whether trade friction with the U.S. is playing a role.

 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 19, 2018 05:15 ET (09:15 GMT)

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