Vaccinations against various types of cancer and drug boosters that are suitable for reducing the effective doses of drugs - this is what Defence Therapeutics stood for, until yesterday. Now the Company has expanded its portfolio: the active ingredient AccuTOX™ ensures that cancer cells die. A Phase 1 trial is planned for 2023. Find out what the new application means and how the Company is otherwise positioned in our update.
It leaves a bad taste when poor numbers are served on a Saturday morning for breakfast. In order to prevent an immediate sellout, VARTA AG probably wants to create the opportunity to brood more closely over the profit warning that was sent out. We had already expected falling sales and profits and the "growing uncertainties" are also nothing new. Nevertheless, VARTA is operating in an absolute growth sector. Anyone who wants to be at the forefront of international competition today has to sail close to the wind. VARTA is obviously having a hard time here, even though the battery market is booming. An update on the data from Ellwangen.
Profound changes are underway in the global energy industry. Governments, industry and consumers are in the process of building a climate-neutral economy in which clean hydrogen occupies a key position as a raw material, energy carrier and fuel. In the transport sector in particular, far-reaching transformations are of elementary importance. There have been hardly any resounding successes in recent years, especially in this sector, which is so important for the climate turnaround. Vancouver and London-based First Hydrogen Corp. is a newcomer to the market, specializing in zero-emission vehicles and the production and distribution of green hydrogen. Through its unique "best-of strategy", the experienced management has been able to set clear scent marks in the recent past. A milestone has now been reached with the inclusion in a leading consortium in the UK, which has, however, received little attention from the broader market.
Germany's energy supply is at risk. One of the major consumers is the chemical giant BASF, which uses gas throughout its production process as an energy and heat supplier, catalyst and indispensable ingredient in packaging and cosmetics. Gas is essential in over 50,000 products - due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, it is now threatening to become scarce in Central Europe. Overall, analysts calculate that a lack of gas supplies from Russia could reduce chemical production in Germany by a fifth by 2024. Some industry stocks are already trading below book value, and the stock market is downgrading Germany's competitiveness compared with the globalized market. Is there any hope for the scolded DAX stock?
Electromobility is considered a key technology in the transformation of the transport sector. In 2021 alone, the number of new registrations and the market share of battery-powered vehicles more than doubled. Sales growth was led by the People's Republic of China, which accounted for more than half, with 3.3 million vehicles. In the Middle Kingdom in particular, the battle for market share is in full swing. BYD, the technology company based in Shenzhen in southern China, left the class leader Tesla behind in the latest sales figures. It is likely to further expand its leading position based on its positioning and battery expertise, which is likely to be reflected in further increases in stock market quotations.
In recent weeks, concerns about the development of the global economy have put oil prices under pressure for the first time since the start of the Ukraine - Russia war. High inflation, coupled with the first stronger interest rate hikes by some central banks, is likely to dampen economic development and thus also reduce demand for crude oil. Oil prices are likely to have completed the first cycle of increases, with Brent prices recently reaching USD 135. Now a leveling off is taking place, which will have to find its way through the entire mix of strikes (Norway) and production interruptions (Kazakhstan). The fact remains that oil will have to remain an indispensable commodity for quite a while, because there are too few alternatives. Therefore, even in an incipient recession and continuing uncertain geopolitical conditions, a high oil price is to be expected. In Saskatchewan, Canada, the oil producer Saturn Oil & Gas is growing out of its infancy into a new dimension.
The past business year was extremely successful for Germany's leading "next generation broker" in terms of client assets under management, the Smartbroker. Although wallstreet:online AG, which will operate under the name Smartbroker Holding AG in the future, intends to grow by around 25% in 2022, the current year is considered a transitional year. Currently, the Berliners are working at full speed on Smartbroker 2.0. With the presentation of the "Case Study 2026" at the recent Annual General Meeting, the optimized model was presented - the potential became clear. Due to the significant correction of the share in recent months, this is a more than interesting entry opportunity at a reduced level.
In order for markets to function efficiently, theory presupposes a comprehensive level of information among all players involved. But in practice, things sometimes look different: When education is no longer sufficient to understand companies' products and methods, an information deficit arises. The market then also no longer functions efficiently, and market anomalies occur. Especially around biotech stocks, investors repeatedly have problems understanding products, solutions and interrelationships. In the case of Defence Therapeutics, the analysis firm Canaccord Genuity is now shedding comprehensive light on the situation. For investors with insight, this can be an opportunity.
On June 21, 2022, the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Bayer AG in the case brought by Californian Edwin Hardeman. Bayer AG sought to avoid billions of dollars in damages through the appeal in order to dismiss lawsuits brought by consumers like Hardeman. The Californian claims to have developed cancer from decades of using the weedkiller Roundup on his Bay Area property. Roundup is part of the product portfolio of Monsanto, which Bayer Group acquired in 2016. His lawsuit serves as an example for thousands of similar lawsuits. What does this mean for investors and private investors?
Stagnating supply chains and chip shortages: Because of a lack of semiconductors, between 7 and 10 million fewer cars will be produced than planned in 2021 and 2022, and the auto industry will miss out on billions in sales. When will the scare come to an end? The carmakers probably underestimated the situation from the start. A few months ago, they believed that there would soon be enough semiconductors for their vehicles again. But they were wrong - the chip shortage has become a permanent problem that has now hit the industry like a tornado. And this, of all things, at a time when manufacturers want to make a massive switch to e-mobility, for which even more specialized semiconductors are needed. The German technology group Infineon can hardly save itself from orders in the automotive sector. How is Germany performing as an industrial high-tech location?