TheStreet: Eli Lilly Reports Better-Than-Expected Earnings but Shares Decline

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Giant pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and said it expects full-year earnings to grow by up to 5%, but still investors were disappointed sending the stock lower in premarket trading. Read more here.

TheStreet: Gardner Denver Confirms It Will Combine With Ingersoll-Rand Division

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Pump manufacturer Gardner Denver confirmed Tuesday it will combine its business with part of Ingersoll-Rand, which also makes pumps, to create a new company worth $15 billion. Read more here.

Photo by Robb Miller on Unsplash

TheStreet: WageWorks Jumps After Receiving Unsolicited Bid From HealthEquity

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Employee benefits administrator HealthEquity has made an unsolicited offer to acquire WageWorks, a company active in the same business. Read more here.

Forbes: Rising Energy Prices Aren't Helping Many Oil-Rich Middle East Nations

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A robust oil market is bringing home the dollars for some key energy-rich nations in the Middle East.

And in some ways, OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is to blame because of its decision to restrict oil output of its member countries.Read more here.

Forbes: Don't Believe The Hype Surrounding Saudi Arabia's Aramco Bond Deal

By SIMON CONSTABLE

This month's bond sale by Saudi Arabia's oil firm Aramco has taken the investing world by storm.

However, you shouldn't buy into the hype. That's because when you look beyond the headlines, the real reason for the sale is not as it may first seem, according to a recent report.Read more here.

Forbes: Scotland's Ruling Party Makes Questionable Decision: Ditch British Pound "As Soon As Practicable"

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

The bad policy ideas just keep on coming from Scotland' ruling party.

Saturday, the Scottish National Party, which controls Scotland's independent parliament, voted to ditch the British pound "as soon as practicable" when or if the country gains full independence.

The vote appears to be motivated by little more than animosity toward many things English, a recurrent theme for the SNP. It could signal a turn towards Venezuelan-style economics. Read more here.

Fake Scottish pound note

Photo by Alf van Beem, 

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

TheStreet: Why France's Total Is a Much Better Oil Play Than Exxon Mobil

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Investors wanting an oil play should buy France's Total SA over Exxon Mobil. 

Total is a steal when compared to its well-known rival Exxon. Read more here.