By Dec 30 Reuters Londons FTSE 100 inched higher on Wednesday after Britain approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, although surging COVID19 cases in the country kept investors cautious.
The bluechip FTSE 100 rose 0.1 by 0803 GMT, struggling to break past a fresh 10month high hit in the previous session.
Drugmaker AstraZeneca rose 1.6, giving the biggest boost to the index, after the company said it is working with the government to begin vaccinations early next year.
The regulatory approval is a welcome boost for AstraZeneca and the Oxford team, which has been accused of lack of clarity about the results from latestage trials.
The midcap FTSE 250 index, considered a barometer of Brexit sentiment, rose 0.1. British lawmakers will vote on the UKEU trade deal in parliament later in the day.
Reporting by Shivani Kumaresan in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V
Source Reuters
