November 3, 2020 - Biz in 60

Low-cost carrier Ryanair posts first summer loss in decades Ryanair has reported a loss for its key summer period for the first time in 30 years as the pandemic hit air travel demand. The low-cost carrier lost 230-million- dollars in the six months to September, driven by an 80-percent drop in passenger numbers. The company has also warned of bigger losses as a resurgence of infections sparks new lockdowns across Europe. Aspen to manufacture J&J COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa South African drugmaker, Aspen Pharmacare, has agreed to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Johnson & Johnson. The potential vaccine is still in clinical trials, and if approved, will be made and packaged at Aspen's plant in Port Elizabeth. Shares in Aspen rose more than 5-percent after the announcement. Turkish manufacturing recovery picks up pace in October Turkey's manufacturing activity grew for a fifth straight month with sharp upticks in orders and output. The Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturers rose to 53-point-9 in October, from 52-point-8 in the previous month. Meanwhile, a separate report showed Turkey's exports rose 5-point-6 percent to a record high of 17-point-3 billion dollars in the same month.