THE DAILY BRIEFING

CANCER HOPES

AstraZeneca has been granted full approval for its lung cancer drug. The pharma firm said the US food and drug administration had given Tagrisso the go-ahead after it passed a stage-three trial.

SALES SOAR

Veterinary group CVS has reported a 28.5pc rise in sales as it snapped up 13 surgeries. Sales in existing practices were up 7.2pc, while profits soared 86.4pc to £8m in the six months to December 31.

NEW WAREHOUSE

Lidl is opening a warehouse in Wednesbury in the West Midlands, creating 400 jobs.

The 435,000 sq ft distribution centre is the budget grocer’s largest in the UK, and will open in six months.

STILL STRONG

Oil and gas firm Pantheon Resources said it is in a ‘strong position’ to take advantage of four discoveries despite losses.

The company posted a £0.7m loss before tax in the six months to December 31, compared to a loss of £0.4m the year before.

TOP SPEEDY

Tool company Speedy Hire said it expects sales and profits to be well ahead of last year.

The firm, which announces its results on May 16, said sales are expected to be 7pc ahead of the previous year while profits will be well ahead.

OLYMPIC HOMES

Developer Hill is joining forces with East London housing association Peabody for a £350m project to build 900 homes at Fish Island near Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where the 2012 Games were held.

TWO HIRED

Crowdfunding website Seedrs has hired Jeff Kelisky, from theme-park photography firm Picsolve, as chief operating officer, and Ricardo Brizido, who worked for online beauty marketer LIB Group, as chief technology officer.

STEADY TRADING

International waste-to-product company Renewi, formerly known as Shanks, said trading for the year to date remains in line with expectations.

PENSION RELIEF

The black hole in Britain’s private sector pension schemes has fallen by £20bn to £500bn, according to accountant PwC.