AstraZeneca rises after Q3 results beat, launches $1.5 billion annual savings plan
** Shares of AstraZeneca AZN.L up 3.8% at £135.46
** Stock among top three gainers on FTSE 100 .FTSE
** Company beats Q3 sales and profit forecasts and maintains 2026 outlook, with growth driven by cancer and rare-disease medicines
** Reports Q3 core earnings of $2.79 per share and revenue of $16.21 billion, beating analysts' estimates of $2.59 per share and $15.94 billion, respectively
** AstraZeneca launches $1.5 billion annual savings plan to invest in drug pipeline
** YTD, shares down ~5% so far this year