From December 22, 2024, consultation fees for general practitioners and specialists in France will increase from €26.50 to €30, following a prior rise in November 2023. This change comes with a reduction in Social Security reimbursement from 70% to 65%, leading to potential 10% hikes in mutual health insurance premiums in 2025. Patients are encouraged to compare health insurance offers annually to find the best rates.
Zurich Insurance Group's stock is experiencing positive momentum, with Barclays raising its target price from 540 to 565 francs and maintaining an "Overweight" rating. Despite a downgrade from JPMorgan to "Underweight" with a target of 440 francs, other analysts, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, have also increased their target prices, reflecting confidence in the company's ambitious financial targets. The share price recently reached 594.30 euros, marking a significant growth of 9.43% over the past month.
Andrea Orcel, CEO of Unicredit, has launched a surprise €10 billion bid for Banco BPM, offering a minimal premium of 0.5%. This move follows his ongoing efforts to acquire Commerzbank, which is currently stalled due to political uncertainties in Germany. The Italian government is cautiously evaluating the bid, with skepticism about the risks of pursuing two major acquisitions simultaneously.
The Parliamentary Investigation Committee (PUK) is set to release its long-awaited report on the end of Credit Suisse, following a year and a half of inquiry. The report comes amid widespread resentment over the federal government's use of emergency law to rescue the bank from bankruptcy after UBS's takeover in March 2023. Key figures such as Marlene Amstad, Ueli Maurer, Thomas Jordan, and Karin Keller-Sutter are closely scrutinized as the implications of the report unfold.
UBS has raised its target price for MTU to €370, maintaining a 'Buy' rating. The stock closed at €318.00, reflecting a 2.48% increase, with trading activity across various exchanges showing slight variations in price. The annual high and low for the stock are €326.10 and €173.75, respectively.
The mobile healthcare market is projected to grow from $105.73 billion in 2023 to $137.12 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 29.7%, driven by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and advancements in telehealth. By 2028, the market is expected to reach $380.8 billion, reflecting ongoing innovations and integration of technology in healthcare. Key trends include telehealth adoption, wearable technology, and a focus on health equity.
India has launched an investigation into Byju’s financial and accounting practices following previous findings of corporate governance issues. The federal government has directed the Registrar of Companies in Hyderabad to examine the company's financial statements for potential misreporting and possible fund misappropriation.
The ASX 200 fell 38 points (-0.45%) to 8380 amid market reactions to the president-elect's tariff plans, which could see a modest increase in tariffs on Chinese imports. Energy stocks declined following a 3.1% drop in crude oil prices, while the banking sector was pressured by APRA's decision to maintain the mortgage serviceability buffer. Despite a slight recovery in iron ore prices, gold stocks suffered losses due to geopolitical developments and fiscal policy changes.
The Swiss stock market faced losses, influenced by statements from Trump, with Roche declining after a research setback and Avolta plummeting. In China, export-oriented companies struggled, while the Shanghai stock exchange gained 0.4%. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei index fell 1.3%, heavily impacted by chip manufacturers and major car makers.
Wall Street showed mixed results as concerns over Trump's proposed high import tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China loom, potentially impacting markets for the next four years. The Swiss stock market remained undecided, with UBS lagging behind in the SMI. Investors await the latest Fed meeting minutes and upcoming data on personal consumption expenditures, the Fed's preferred inflation measure.