Astrazeneca

• The FTSE 100 index dropped 1.7% today, driven primarily by a sharp decline in AstraZeneca shares. • Market losses were further exacerbated by rising oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. • While the blue-chip index fell, the FTSE 250 and FTSE All-Share indices opened with more caution.

Drugmaker had stalled large-scale UK projects but has now pledged investment at two sites, announced by Keir StarmerBritain’s biggest drugmaker AstraZeneca has said it will invest £300m in the UK in a surprise U-turn after pausing large-scale projects last year.The drugmaker had pulled back projects in Britain after becoming disillusioned with the business environment, including the availability of new medicines on the NHS and drug pricing. Continue reading...