Forecast of slower growth counters Shire's strong results

While Ireland-headquartered Shire (LSE: SHP) could look at its 2017 financial results and pat itself on the back, it was perhaps with a slightly uncertain hand as the drugmaker considered its prospects for the coming year.

Investors appeared to share these mixed feeling, with the company’s share price zigging up and down on Wednesday and eventually looking set to end the day relatively unchanged from Tuesday’s close.

Revenue at Shire was $15.16 billion for 2017, an increase of 33% on the previous year and above analysts’ predictions of just under $15 billion.