January 26, 2021 - Biz in 60

Business in 60 Seconds

South Korea's economy expands 1.1% in fourth quarter South Korea's economy grew at a faster-than- expected pace in the fourth quarter, as surging exports helped offset sagging domestic demand. GDP expanded 1-point-1 percent in the final three months of 2020 compared with the prior quarter. But for the whole of last year, Asia's fourth-largest economy shrunk 1-percent, its worst growth rate in more than two decades. Johnson & Johnson beats fourth quarter earnings expectations Johnson and Johnson has reported better-than- expected fourth quarter results, boosted by demand for its prescription drugs. Net profit at the pharmaceutical giant came in at almost 1-and- a-quarter- billion dollars despite litigation expenses of 2-point-9 billion dollars. J&J has also offered an upbeat outlook for its business this year, as it races to develop a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. UBS unveils $4.5B share buyback programme as profits jump UBS has unveiled a 4-and- a-half billion dollar share buyback program as it reported its highest annual profit of the post-financial crisis era. Net income at Switzerland's biggest lender came in at 6-point-6 billion dollars in 2020, up by 56-percent from the year before. Earnings were boosted by its wealth management and investment divisions.