Sep 7, 2026 · 7 min
Novartis stumbles as Nordex and European tech stocks rally
Stock Movers: Novartis, Soitec, Nordex (Podcast)
The episode contrasts drug-development risk with renewed confidence in wind power, semiconductors, AI, and smarter urban infrastructure.
- 1Novartis shares fell after two clinical-trial disappointments raised fresh concerns about its drug pipeline.
- 2Nordex gained after Bank of America cited stronger orders, potential earnings growth, and excessive recent underperformance.
- 3European technology stocks rallied on stronger photonics demand and optimism surrounding AI and semiconductor growth.
Don't miss
The clearest contrast comes as Novartis absorbs two clinical-trial disappointments while Nordex benefits from an analyst upgrade and stronger order expectations.
The brief
Caroline Hepburn and Chloe Melley open with a sharp split in European markets: Novartis is under pressure after two trial setbacks, while Nordex rallies after a Bank of America upgrade.
Novartis faced consecutive disappointments involving an experimental autoimmune-disease cell therapy and a heart drug that failed to reduce major cardiovascular events.
Nordex’s upgrade rests on potential earnings growth, stronger German and U.S. orders, a stable supply chain, and the view that recent share-price underperformance went too far.
Soitec and other European technology names rose with improved photonics demand and broader optimism around semiconductors and OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra launch.
The episode then widens its lens to smart cities, asking how AI, infrastructure blueprints, and long-term planning can help urban systems absorb rapid population growth.
What was said on this episode
9 statements · 7 positive · 2 negative
Novartis needs to rebuild its drug-development pipeline
“it really does need to grow that pipeline again”
Listen at 1:23
The DM1 drug’s success will be crucial to Novartis’s outlook
“the success of that drug will be key for the outlook”
Listen at 2:03
Another Novartis trial disappointment could sharply hurt its shares
“another disappointment could, of course, weigh massively on the shares”
Listen at 2:06
Nordex is emerging from a difficult period for the wind industry
“Nordex kind of emerging from a difficult period for the wind industry in general”
Listen at 2:59
GPT-6 Astra’s launch is driving current AI optimism
“the main reason for this AI optimism today is the launch of OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra, this new model”
Listen at 3:45
Swatek and peers benefit as suppliers to data centers and semiconductors
“Swatek and those names that I mentioned are really benefiting from that as kind of key suppliers of those components of data centers and semiconductors and everything”
Listen at 4:28
AI will accelerate processes in smart-city systems
“AI will allow in the smart city space to compress a lot of things. The speed will change.”
Listen at 5:26
Dubai responded effectively to its sudden population increase
“they reacted very well to it”
Listen at 5:53
Dubai has a long-term urban-planning vision
“They have a long-term urban planning vision”
Listen at 5:54
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.
Books & mentions
Economy of Scale
Its smart-cities discussion extends the episode’s look at AI, infrastructure, and urban growth.
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.