AstraZeneca shares fall 7% after Bristol Myers Squibb merger talks report

AstraZeneca's shares tumbled 7% in early trading on Monday following reports of preliminary discussions with U.S.-based Bristol Myers Squibb regarding a potential merger. The proposed combination could create one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with a combined value nearing $400 billion. However, investors and analysts have expressed skepticism about the strategic rationale behind such a transformative acquisition for AstraZeneca.