Shares fly as AstraZeneca finally returns to growth

Last year AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) annual results statement showed that French chief executive Pascal Soriot had missed a promise to reverse his firm’s longstanding decline in revenues.

This year’s statement shows Mr Soriot has finally succeeded in returning the firm to growth, sending shares in the British drugmaker up over 8% by late afternoon in London on Thursday.

AstraZeneca has beaten expectations in its most recent final quarter and full-year 2018 financial results statement. Driven by its oncology division, the final quarter saw strong performance, with product sales growth of 5%, to $5.7 billion. For the full year, sales increased 4% to $21 billion.