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Financial Highlights: Total product sales for the three months ended 30 Sept were $1.05 billion. Total revenues for three months were $1.10 billion, compared with $1.09 billion a year ago. Shire reported a strong balance sheet with continued robust cash generation.

Third quarter results: Aided by strong cash flows, (up 20% to over $350 million in the quarter) Shire said it remained on track to deliver double digit full year earnings growth in 2012. The resilient performance saw its attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment - Vyvanse continue to gain share and generate strong prescription growth in the US despite the entry of additional generics in the ADHD market. Shire’s rare disease business continues to grow, with Firazyr performing strongly following its US launch, added the group. Separately, Shire announced the impending retirement in 2013 of Chief Executive Angus Russell after 13 years with the Company. Flemming Ornskov will join the Shire Board as Chief Executive Designate on 2 January 2013, becoming CEO on 30th April 2013.

Shire plc is an international specialist pharmaceutical company which in-licenses and develops early stage projects for its own marketing in the major markets around the world. Registered in Jersey, headquartered in Ireland, it has a large operational base in the United Kingdom. Brands and products include Adderall XR, Carbatrol, Fosrenol, and the recently released Vyvanse.

Positive Points: On 16 August 2012, Anglo American completed the acquisition of a 40% shareholding in De Beers from CHL Holdings Limited (representing the Oppenheimer family interests), thereby increasing Anglo American's shareholding in De Beers to 85%. Anglo American reported on 24th August that it completed the sale of a 25.4% shareholding in Anglo American Sur to a Codelco and Mitsui joint venture company controlled by Codelco for a combined total cash consideration of $2.0 billion. Foreign currency fluctuations, particularly in relation to the South African Rand and the US dollar, can work in the group's favour. Speculation regarding a potential takeover continues to be rumoured. A progressive dividend policy continues to be pursued.

Negative Points: The group reported that Platinum production had been experiencing illegal industrial strike action at its Rustenburg, Union and Amandelbult mining operations since 18 September 2012, driving up costs. The strike caused the loss of 42,000 ounces of equivalent refined platinum in the third quarter, and an additional 96,300 ounces from disruption during October. The mining industry is grappling with falling commodity prices at a time when operating costs still remain high, prompting some to consider tweaking their capital investment programmes. Anglo faces challenges in its efforts to secure licences, and has also been forced to delay the shipment of first ore from its key Minas Rio iron ore project in Brazil to the second half of 2014. Industry-specific risks include government actions, such as controls on imports, exports and prices. Also, new forms or rates of taxation and royalties, and increased government regulation remain a concern. South African miners started paying mining royalties in March 2010, in line with global best practice and market expectations. Skilled labour, electricity and water shortages in South Africa may affect Anglo's production. Around 40% of the miner's assets are in South Africa and could erode Anglo's global competitiveness.

Third quarter production report: Anglo American has delivered a solid production report for its latest quarter, with increases across five of the seven commodities it mines. Production highlights for the quarter saw Iron ore - Kumba iron ore production increase by 14% to a record 12.5m tonnes, driven by faster than planned ramp up of the Kolomela mine. Kolomela is expected to produce at least 7m tonnes in 2012. Metallurgical coal – production of metallurgical coal increased by 12% to 4.5Mt. Thermal coal – export thermal coal production in South Africa increased by 10% to 4.6 Mt due to the ramp-up of Zibulo and the industrial action that affected operations in Q3 2011. Copper – copper production increased by 12% to 157,300 tonnes, reflecting a full ramp up of the Los Bronces expansion project. Nickel - nickel production increased by 38% to 9,000 tonnes, with production from Barro Alto offsetting the lack of production from Loma de Níquel in Venezuela. Platinum - refined platinum production of 649,000 ounces was reported as flat, while equivalent refined platinum production decreased by 6% to 626,300 ounces. Production and costs were adversely impacted by industrial action which caused production losses in the quarter. Diamonds - diamond production decreased by 31% to 6.4m carats, largely in response to market conditions.

Anglo American is a diversified global mining company. The company's portfolio of mining assets and natural resources includes platinum group metals and diamonds, with interests in copper, iron ore, metallurgical coal, nickel and thermal coal, as well as a series of share stakes in other mining and industrial businesses. It operates in Africa, Europe, South and North America, Australia and Asia. Anglo Platinum, a managed subsidiary, owns platinum reserves.

Positive Points: Management reaffirmed its current long-term targets. Strategically targeted acquisitions are expected to add between 0% to 5% in revenues per annum. Operating margin expansion of 0.5% targeted. Back in June (2012) WPP agreed to buy AKQA for about $540 million, adding one of the largest and most highly regarded independent digital agencies to its portfolio. The group continues to grow via bolt-on acquisitions. Deals done continue to be of small and medium sized companies, focused on new markets, new media and consumer insight. During the half year, the group completed 40 transactions, 20 acquisitions and investments were in new markets (of which 14 were in new media), 13 in consumer insight, including data analytics and the application of technology, with the balance of 7 driven by individual client or agency needs. WPP continues to enjoy geographical diversification. While cautious regarding 2013, management has been more upbeat regarding 2014, highlighting the World Cup in Brazil, the Winter Olympics in Sochi and the mid-term Congressional elections in America. The United Kingdom reported an increase of 4.7% like-for-like revenues in the third quarter. In Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe, revenue growth was strongest, with like-for-like revenues up 6.8%, principally driven by Latin America, Africa and the BRIC Emerging Markets. Management continue to focus on containing operating costs. A progressive dividend policy has to date been pursued. The total 2011 dividend payment enjoyed a 38.3% increase over that paid in 2010.

Negative Points: The board now expects full-year like-for-like revenue growth of between 2.5% and 3.0%, down from a forecast of 3.5% made back in August. A slowdown in September in both North America and Continental Europe dragged on the third quarter performance. For its North American region, a like-for-like revenue decline 0.4% was reported, down on the first half. Strong growth in the Group's advertising and media investment management businesses was more than offset by weakness in the Group's consumer insight, public relations and public affairs and branding & identity, healthcare and specialist communications businesses. Western Continental Europe was most difficult, with like-for-like revenues down 2.1% in the period. Germany, France and Turkey grew, but Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria were tougher, with the effects of the Eurozone crisis impacting many parts of Western Continental Europe. The company deemed 2013 ‘likely to be more challenging’, citing a lack of major sporting or political events that will impact advertising and likely to offset faster economic recovery for the sector. Each WPP company operates in a fiercely competitive sector. Average net debt in the first nine months of 2012 of £3.105 billion reported, up from £2.776 billion in 2011. Expenditure on acquisitions has played a part. The company is exposed to foreign exchange risk.

Financial Highlights: Reported revenues rose by 1.6% to £2.49 billion Third quarter like-for-like revenues grew by 1.9% Average net debt in the first nine months of 2012 of £3.105 billion reported, up from £2.776 billion in 2011

Third quarter update: The US corporate third quarter reporting season has so far been disappointing in terms of numbers and outlook. WPP has, unfortunately and perhaps unsurprisingly, been drawn into this disappointment. Quite apart from the major exposure it has to the US where concerns over the fiscal cliff have stunted corporate optimism, the position in Europe and even China have weighed on WPP’s performance. In some ways, the company is a proxy for the global economy and, even into 2013 WPP is managing down expectations. The reaction of the share price in early trade (down over 5%) is testament to a market which is searching for corporate “good news” stories, but is finding them hard to locate. On the upside, WPP does nonetheless continue to grow, and its acquisitive policy along with a tight control on costs has resulted in strong operating margins. The company is already predicting a strong 2014, and in the meantime would be well positioned to benefit from any unexpected improvement in the global economy. Today’s update has given an opportunity for profit taking, with the shares having risen 25% over the last year, as compared to a 5% gain for the wider FTSE100. Despite the prevailing disappointment, the company rema

Company overview The Group's core activity is the provision of communications services worldwide. The Business is divided into four key areas: Advertising & Media Investment Management; Information, Insight & Consultancy; Public Relations, Public Affairs and Branding & Identity and finally Healthcare & Specialist Communications. Brands within the group include J Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam. Its primary listing is on the London Stock Exchange and it is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has a secondary listing on NASDAQ.

Positive Points: Financial targets for the full year are unchanged. The group is increasingly focussed on emerging markets. The company's sales in these developing markets grew by 6% in constant currency terms in the quarter, with 23% growth in China and Russia. In July, AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration deal to jointly develop and sell five biotech drugs currently in Amgen's developmental pipeline. Amgen is the world's largest biotechnology company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will make a one-time $50 million upfront payment and the companies will share both costs and profits. The UK Government recently announced lower taxes on patents in a bid to try to encourage companies to carry out more research in the UK. Year to date net share repurchases totalled $2.3 billion prior to the suspension of the share repurchase programme on 1st October.

Negative Points: The newly appointed CEO – Pascal Soriot suspended the group's share buyback programme to increase financial flexibility as the group undergoes a strategy review, which is expected to be presented to investors in the first quarter of 2013. Drugs that account for more than 40% of sales will lose patent protection by the end of 2014. AstraZeneca’s second- best-selling drug, Seroquel for schizophrenia, lost US patent protection in March, while the patent on Nexium for ulcers, the third-biggest seller, expires in the US in 2014. In addition to patent expiries, drugmakers have also been hit by falling drug prices in Europe, where the euro crisis has prompted governments to take exceptional measures to curb spiralling healthcare costs. AstraZeneca is a pure pharmaceuticals group, without the cushion of alternative revenue streams found at more diversified rivals, increasing its need to find new prescription drugs, something it has struggled to do in recent years. At 30 September 2012, outstanding gross debt (interest-bearing loans and borrowings) was $10.91 billion (31December 2011: $9.33 billion).

Financial Highlights: Core profit, which excludes restructuring costs and certain other items, declined to $2.6 billion from $3.18 billion. Revenue for the quarter was $6.68 billion, down 15% at constant exchange rates.

Third quarter results: Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca unveiled an expected revenue decline that reflected the ongoing effect from the loss of exclusivity on several brands in key markets. Quarterly profits fell 17% feeling the impact of increased competition, generic medicines and government measures to reduce drug prices, although that beat the expectations of the market. AstraZeneca noted that continued disciplined management of operating expenses and proceeds from the sale of Nexium OTC rights mitigated the impact of the revenue decline and core operating profit. The UK’s second-biggest drugmaker has been scouting licensing deals and small to mid-sized acquisitions to bolster its pipeline amid development setbacks and patent expires on its best-selling medicines. “The company’s financial performance in 2012 largely reflects the ongoing impact from the loss of exclusivity for several brands in key markets, as well as the challenges that confront the pharmaceutical industry as a whole,” Pascal Soriot , the new CEO said in the statement.

AstraZeneca is a global, biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. Headquartered in London, it operates in over 100 countries, with its medicines used by millions of patients worldwide. The group's primary listing is on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings on the New York Stock Exchange and the OMX Exchange

Positive Points: The group’s continues to enjoy product volume growth (demand) which is ahead of its rivals. Financial guidance for the current full year has been maintained. Underlying sales growth continues to be achieved. Solid growth in the Emerging Markets was reported. Emerging markets underlying sales growth grew by 12.1% in the quarter, up by 11.7% in the year to date. A transformation of the group remains ongoing. Initiatives to remove unsustainable cost burdens from the group’s structure continue. Product innovation and the expansion of product sales into new geographical terrorities both continue to assist performance. Many of the group’s products – food sales – remain defensive in difficult economic times. A progressive dividend policy has to date been pursued. The total 2011 dividend payment enjoyed a 9.8% increase over that paid in 2010.

Negative Points: Accompanying management comments noted that “it is clear that the environment will remain challenging. Commodity cost inflation is high and remains volatile and there is no sign that the level of competition will ease.” Drought conditions in the US have recently seen a number of soft commodity prices moving higher – a potential threat to costs. Developed markets declined in the quarter. The ability to recoup rising raw material costs in the emerging markets could prove difficult going forward, with food and consumer goods still accounting for a sizeable proportion of earned incomes. Currency movements provide potential to create headwinds.

Financial Highlights: Group revenues increased by 10.3% to €13.4 billion. Currency movements added 4.1%, with acquisitions providing an additional 0.1% Underlying sales growth of 5.9% reported. Emerging Markets increased by 12.1% Underlying volume growth of 3.4%, ahead of its markets; pricing up 2.4%