Without the complication of legal charges, GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) reported profits returned to something resembling normality, which perhaps gave traders an excuse to lock-in profits on the sizeable share price gains seen in recent months. Moreover, shareholders can expect a further £1bn-£2bn of share buy-backs this year - as well as a 5p special dividend, from selling peripheral over-the-counter products.
Indeed, and despite uncertainties over whether Relovair will make much difference - the company's replacement for top-selling asthma drug, Advair - GSK delivered positive second-half sales growth. That followed a 6 per cent first-half sales slide after being hit by such factors as a fall in 'flu pandemic product sales, the withdrawal of diabetes drug Avandia, and the patent expiry for genital herpes product, Valtrex.