UK 08:55 Saturday, 24 October 2026
Breaking news and expert analysis on fast-moving AIM and LSE listed shares
All those like our own Gary Newman, comrade Brian Basham and Euroloon Jonathan Price who are suffering from #TrumpDerangementSyndrome and who think that Rachel from Customer Services is attracting real investment into the UK better look away. For our country’s second largest drugs giant has $50 billion of shock news.
Hello Share Twiddlers. I’ve been saying that the wisest policy at the mo seems to be to avoid buying shares. As usual, there are exceptions. For example, I fail to see how big pharmas can go into reverse. That’s because of three factors. A growing ageing population, new viruses and scientific strides in medical treatments.
Hello, Share Mongers. As I’m under the surgeon’s knife today, I thought it appropriate to reiterate my saintly view that we all should have at least some of our dough in medical companies. It’s a good way of making the world a better place by fighting pain and suffering. So let’s take a look at AstraZeneca (AZN).
Hello, Share Seekers. I’ve been l reviewing my general predictions for various sectors over the last three years. It amazes me how many forecasts proved right. Not sadly for the right reasons, though. Because nobody foresaw that the world would suffer the pandemic. However, perhaps our subconscious was warning us. It may more to do with correct share-picking than we tend to think.
I learnt something new this weekend: AstraZeneca (AZN) is the biggest company on the UK market in terms of capitalisation, having doubled it in the last three-and-a-half years or so. So well done to it, especially as a number of years back - in its shoes - I would have bitten off the corporate approach made by Pfizer and sold the company.
Hello, Share Collectors. Today’s choice is probably the last in my humble series of medical companies possibly to see fast-escalating share prices once the crisis is over. This is one of the biggest pharmas directly involved in the fight against the outbreak. I don’t hold shares in AstraZeneca (AZN), having chosen instead its big rival GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), but my finger will hover on the buy button once the outbreak peak is over...
Hello, Share Folks. Allow me to suggest that there’s a compelling case, getting stronger by the week, for investing in pharmaceutical companies. For the more cautious among us, this will be the giants, like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and AstraZeneca (AZN). Share prices in both are already buoyant and the divis are handy. But the more speculative investor will be trying for the huge rewards that a pharma mini can achieve if it strikes lucky with a drug it’s researching.
Hello Share Squabblers. Of the two great British giants in the pharmaceutical sector, I long ago chose to invest in GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). But perhaps I should have opted for AstraZeneca (AZN) instead...
Hello, Share Picklers. It’s obvious that medical companies are risky. But the smaller outfits provide more perilous opportunities. The giants seem big enough to absorb the failures and obstacles to obtaining the necessary licences. AstraZeneca (AZN), like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is a jumbo pharmaceutical company and is worth a look...
Hello, Share Spooners. Given the ageing and less healthy world population, I have often said that the big pharmaceuticals offer a buying opportunity. But as usual with medical advances, progress has been slow. I hold shares in GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). But although I’ve often been tempted to dive into its big rival AstraZeneca (AZN), I have resisted the urge. Now I’m rather glad I did.
One of the big pharmaceuticals which I think will prosper on the misfortunes of millions of people is AstraZeneca (AZN). This is not to say that the company is exploitative. Quite the opposite - its scientists are only trying to help.
Hello Share Smackers. If there is one sector which can be truly called defensive, it is the giant pharma world. Big drugs companies supply something that no-one in his or her right mind would give up - release from pain and suffering. So even when times are hard, medical giants will continue to make money.
