But hopes for an end to the pandemic buoyed sentiment, as a European Commission official said the EU could give final approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine as early as Dec 23. The bloc's medical regulator has moved forward its meeting following approvals in Britain and the United States.
London's FTSE 100 weathered a higher pound to rise 0.9 per cent and break a three session losing run.
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