London, January 24, 2026, 19:48 GMT — Markets have closed
- A U.S. appeals court has revived a terrorism-funding lawsuit against AstraZeneca and several other companies linked to Iraq.
- AstraZeneca shares closed higher in New York on Friday and edged up in London; the ruling was announced after U.S. markets closed
- Investors will be eyeing Monday’s reaction closely, alongside the company’s planned switch from Nasdaq to NYSE at the end of January
A U.S. appeals court on Friday revived a lawsuit accusing AstraZeneca and several major drug and medical-device companies of funneling millions in cash and medical supplies to fund terrorism in Iraq. The plaintiffs claim the firms made corrupt payments to Jaysh al‑Mahdi, a militia backed by Hezbollah, to win contracts from the Iraqi Health Ministry. They are seeking unspecified damages under the U.S. Anti‑Terrorism Act. (Reuters)
The announcement came after the U.S. market closed, forcing traders to factor in the risk when trading resumes Monday. It also casts a sudden shadow over a stock that had been steadily climbing in recent days.
MORE: