Biotechnology: Although financing for biotech companies is improving, it still remains tough. In the first half of 2009, funds raised by biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical firms increased 41% to $8.3 million, excluding revenue from partnerships. Compared to the first half of 2007, financing was down 55%. Money raised through public offerings and alternative financing rose […]

Primary energy consumption rose 1.4% in 2008 for the slowest growth since 2001, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Non-OECD nations were responsible for most of the demand, as Asia-Pacific represented 87% of this growth, with China’s energy consumption up 7.2%. Globally, oil production increased 0.4% to 380,000 barrels per day (b/d), […]

PricewaterhouseCoopers reports that revenues for the 40 largest mining companies (with market capitalization of $2.3 billion or more) increased 23% in 2008 to $349 billion. However, operating expenses grew 27% to $208 billion and net profit declined 14% to $57 billion. Capital expenditures increased 38% to $66 billion. The sharp decline in metal prices in […]

According to a survey and analysis by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), investment in innovation and long-term growth is a priority of OECD nations’ economic stimulus packages. Such investments can be grouped into five themes: infrastructure improvements; R&D, science and innovation support; education and human-capital investments; investment and promotion of green technologies; […]

Despite lower earnings last year for US, European and Asian chemical companies, R&D spending increased and capital spending was mixed. Total aggregated capital spending in 2008 among the 21 US chemical firms tracked by Chemical & Engineering News increased 18.6% to $10,782 million. Last year, R&D spending for these 21 chemical companies increased 6.0% to […]