AstraZeneca

Top-performing Neptune mid-cap manager Mark Martin has been adding to ex-FTSE 250 companies following the latest index shake-up.

Neil Woodford's top ten holdings in his Woodford Equity Income fund contain few surprises, with AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and British American Tobacco the three largest positions.

Neil Woodford's new fund is a focal point of investor interest at the moment, but those looking to diversify their UK equity income exposure have a number of alternatives.

Lazard manager Pat Ryan is optimistic on the prospects for Chinese banks despite a string of well-publicised problems, and has increased exposure to the sector within his Global Equity Income fund.

Henderson's Chris Burvill is buying AstraZeneca, among other firms, in a move to benefit from merger and acquisition speculation.

M&A is messier than investors might like

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has abandoned its plans to buy AstraZeneca following an unsuccessful pursuit of its UK rival.

AXA IM has urged AstraZeneca to reconsider its rejection of a £69bn takeover bid by Pfizer as fund managers take opposing sides in advance of an imminent deadline for discussions to begin.

Shares in pharma giant AstraZeneca plunged this morning after the group rejected a fresh offer from US firm Pfizer.

EFG Asset Management is set to launch an M&A tracker fund led by global chief investment officer Mozamil Afzal, together with head of equity research Robin Milway.