Bloomberg Activity in euro-area manufacturing and services accelerated more than initially estimated as growth in the region’s three largest economies converged. A composite Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 56.8 in April from 56.4 in March, IHS Markit said on Thursday. An April 21 flash report was for an increase to 56.7. The spread between gauges for the rates of …

  Bloomberg Being a big drug company isn’t what it used to be. The largest drugmakers are finding it more difficult to charge high prices for a range of medications, their latest quarterly results show. That’s raising the pressure to pump up sales volumes and find lucrative new treatments for niche markets. “You had an environment in which you could …

  Bloomberg Growth in Britain’s services sector unexpectedly strengthened in April, giving the economy a solid start to the second quarter after a weaker-than-forecast performance at the start of the year. IHS Markit’s index rose to 55.8 in April from 55 in March, defying expectations for a decline to 54.5. Its measures for manufacturing and construction published earlier this week …