

IMPACT Therapeutics licensed senaparib to Pharmanovia for up to EUR423.5 million, expanding the ovarian cancer drug's reach to 66 countries. The exclusive agreement grants Pharmanovia rights to manufacture, develop and commercialize senaparib as a maintenance monotherapy for advanced epithelial high-grade ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer, the company said in a filing. The deal covers Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Australia and New Zealand. IMPACT is eligible for upfront, regulatory and commercialization milestone payments totaling up to EUR423.5 million, plus tiered royalties on net product sales reaching the mid-twenties percentage range. Senaparib, a PARP1/2 inhibitor, is already approved and reimbursed in China and listed on the National Reimbursement Drug List. Shares of the Hong Kong-listed company rose as much as 14.93 percent to HKD13.5 before trading at HKD12.93, up 12.24 percent, with turnover of 205,800 shares worth HKD2.65 million. The European Medicines Agency accepted the marketing authorization application for senaparib as first-line maintenance therapy for advanced ovarian cancer in August 2025, with a decision expected in the second half of 2026. The partnership marks IMPACT's first major step to commercialize its lead drug outside China. Pharmanovia's specialist infrastructure is expected to speed patient access to senaparib once approved and support IMPACT's broader global oncology strategy, the company said. The most recent analyst rating on IMPACT Therapeutics stock is a Hold with a HK$37.60 price target, according to TipRanks data. The company has a market capitalization of about HK$3.09 billion. Senaparib enters a competitive PARP inhibitor field that includes AstraZeneca's Lynparza and GlaxoSmithKline's Zejula, both approved for ovarian cancer maintenance therapy. Approval in China and the pending European review give senaparib a foothold in two of the largest oncology markets, while the Pharmanovia deal extends its reach across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The deal gives IMPACT a potential EUR423.5 million in milestone payments plus ongoing royalties, a substantial revenue stream for a company with a HK$3.09 billion market cap. Investors will watch the EMA decision on senaparib, expected in the second half of 2026, as the next major event for the stock. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

CK Hutchison Holdings completed the sale of its 49% stake in VodafoneThree for GBP4.3 billion in cash, realizing its investment in the UK's largest mobile operator and freeing capital for future deals. "CK Hutchison is proud of the role it has played in the history of UK telecommunications industry, from being among the world's first to invest in 3G mobile telecommunications and bringing ground-breaking mobile broadband services to the UK public, to helping create VodafoneThree, the country's leading mobile operator," Canning Fok, deputy chairman of CK Hutchison and executive chairman of CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings, said. The CKHGT group, a wholly owned subsidiary of CK Hutchison, received GBP4.3 billion (approximately HK$45.47 billion) in cash for the cancellation of its shares in VodafoneThree. VodafoneThree was formed through the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK in 2025 and serves over 28 million customers. "This transaction realises our investment in VodafoneThree and returns value to the Group and our shareholders, while further strengthening our balance sheet and creating additional opportunities for the future," Fok said. CK Hutchison shares closed down 0.5 percent on the Hong Kong exchange, with short selling accounting for 21.2 percent of turnover. The exit closes a chapter that began more than 30 years ago, when CK Hutchison was among the world's first investors in 3G mobile telecommunications. The GBP4.3 billion proceeds, equal to roughly HK$45.5 billion, give the conglomerate fresh capital for its ports, retail, and infrastructure businesses across Europe and Asia. The deal was first agreed in May, when CK Hutchison struck a GBP4.3 billion agreement with Vodafone to exit the joint venture. Completion leaves Vodafone as sole owner of the UK's largest operator, which competes with BT Group's EE and Virgin Media O2 in a market serving more than 28 million mobile customers. For Vodafone, full ownership removes a minority partner and simplifies decision-making as it pushes a GBP11 billion network investment program across the UK. The operator has been integrating the two networks since the merger, combining core and radio infrastructure to deliver nationwide 5G speed upgrades, according to company statements. For CK Hutchison, the cash injection strengthens a balance sheet that funds operations spanning Europe and Asia, giving the group room to pursue acquisitions or return capital to shareholders. The divestment also removes the group's exposure to UK telecom regulation and network investment obligations, which had tied up capital in a mature market. The proceeds arrive as CK Hutchison's Hong Kong-listed shares trade under pressure from weak Chinese property exposure and soft global trade. The GBP4.3 billion could support a special dividend or fund expansion in higher-growth infrastructure assets. The group has said it remains a long-term investor in the UK and Europe, suggesting the cash may be redeployed into new infrastructure projects rather than returned in full. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

China's National Development and Reform Commission pledged more proactive macro policy to revive growth and prices, hours after data showed factory activity unexpectedly contracted for the first time in months. "China will implement more proactive and effective macro policies to stabilize employment, enterprises, markets and expectations, and enhance the endogenous momentum for economic development and price recovery," Jiang Yi, director of the policy research office and spokesperson at the NDRC, said at a press conference Thursday. The pledge follows an official survey showing the manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 49.2 in July from 50.3 in June, slipping below the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction and missing the median forecast for 50 in a Reuters poll. The NDRC said it would also closely monitor price fluctuations of essential goods and energy to ensure stable supply. The announcement comes a day after the Communist Party's Politburo struck a more supportive tone on the economy but stopped short of announcing fresh stimulus, saying only that the government would "plan to roll out pragmatic and effective new policies in a timely manner." The combination points to incremental easing rather than aggressive measures, with Beijing seeking to shore up growth without overstimulating. ## PMI Slips Below 50 as Demand Weakens The manufacturing contraction reflects persistently weak demand and elevated production costs, according to the National Bureau of Statistics survey. The reading reverses two months of expansion and marks the first sub-50 print since the index returned to growth territory. The NDRC's emphasis on price recovery is notable: China has struggled with deflationary pressure, with weak demand keeping consumer prices subdued, and the commission's pledge to support the "endogenous momentum" for price recovery suggests policymakers view the softness as a problem to address actively rather than a temporary blip. ## Incremental Easing Seen Ahead of August Data The NDRC's role as China's top economic planner means its language often precedes coordinated action across ministries and the People's Bank of China. Investors will watch for follow-through in the form of PBoC tools — cuts to the medium-term lending facility rate or the reserve requirement ratio — alongside fiscal measures such as accelerated infrastructure spending. The commission's explicit mention of price recovery suggests monetary easing may be directed at lifting inflation expectations, a shift from the recent focus on stabilizing output. For global investors, the policy signals carry direct implications. A more proactive macro stance typically supports Chinese equities and risk assets, while the focus on price recovery could underpin commodity prices, particularly energy and essential goods. The NDRC's commitment to stabilizing employment, enterprises and markets suggests targeted support for domestic consumption and infrastructure sectors, which would feed through to the CSI 300 and the Hang Seng Index. On the currency side, monetary easing could weigh on the yuan, though the focus on price recovery may offset some of that pressure by supporting growth expectations. The timing is significant. The Politburo meeting and the NDRC press conference come as China's economy faces mounting headwinds, including weak external demand, a struggling property sector and subdued consumer confidence. Markets will now watch for concrete measures — rate cuts, fiscal spending or targeted support — in the coming weeks, with the next batch of economic data due in mid-August. If Beijing delivers on its pledge, Chinese equities and commodity-linked sectors could extend gains; if the support proves incremental, investors may temper expectations for a sustained recovery. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.