Aug 17, 2026 · 6 min

European shares split across drugs, copper and biotech

AstraZeneca Climbs, Glencore Rises, Argenx Surges

The episode shows how clinical setbacks, strategic access to copper and trial data can move major European stocks in sharply different directions.

3 key takeaways

1AstraZeneca faced pressure after halting a lung cancer drug trial and discussing treatment results.
2Glencore shares rose as high copper prices and AI demand supported the company’s outlook.
3argenx surged after positive trial results for an experimental myositis treatment.

Don't miss

Glencore’s $1 billion South Korean loan to secure copper connects a single stock move to the broader AI-driven demand for the metal.

The brief

European stocks are reacting to sharply different catalysts: AstraZeneca’s halted lung cancer trial, Glencore’s copper financing and argenx’s positive treatment data.

Kit Reese joins Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker to explain why AstraZeneca’s trial update put clinical progress under scrutiny and weighed on the company’s story.

Glencore’s shares rose as high copper prices and AI-related demand met a $1 billion loan from South Korea to secure supplies of the metal.

argenx provided the clearest positive surprise, with its stock surging after encouraging trial results for an experimental myositis treatment.

Together, the cases show how European markets price different kinds of uncertainty: failed development, strategic commodities and promising biotech evidence.

What was said on this episode

9 statements · 6 positive · 1 negative · 2 mixed

Kit Reeson AstraZenecaNegative1:41
AstraZeneca shares are currently depressed relative to their level since July.
“AstraZeneca shares are pretty depressed since July really”
Listen at 1:41
Kit Reeson AI-driven copper demandPositive2:20
AI has been a major driver of copper demand this year.
“AI has been the big demand driver this year”
Listen at 2:20
Kit Reeson CopperPositive2:24
Copper is a key component used in data centers.
“It's used in data centers. So it's a really, really key component.”
Listen at 2:24
Kit Reeson Copper demandPositive2:32
Demand for copper is currently very high.
“there's just a huge demand for copper”
Listen at 2:32
Kit Reeson US-bound copper shipmentsPositive2:42
US-bound copper shipments are supporting mining companies’ share prices.
“this is just really buoying these mining companies”
Listen at 2:42
Kit Reeson argenx experimental myositis treatmentPositive3:06
argenx reported positive trial results for an experimental myositis treatment.
“it had a slatestail trial results for experimental treatment for myositis”
Listen at 3:06
Kit Reeson Biotech stocksMixed3:14
Biotech stocks can experience highly binary outcomes.
“biotech stocks, they can be a little bit binary”
Listen at 3:14
Kit Reeson Biotech stocksMixed3:17
Biotech stocks’ fortunes depend on whether particular drugs succeed in development.
“their fortunes really depend on whether a particular drug is successful in its development”
Listen at 3:17
Kit Reeson argenx sharesPositive3:28
argenx shares are up approximately 10% year-to-date.
“the shares are now positive on the year. They're up about 10%”
Listen at 3:28

Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.

Featuring

KRKit Rees

Mentioned

AAstraZeneca GGlencore AArgenx

Copper

Artificial Intelligence

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