Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline gained 0.3% as it struck a 150 million euros ($180 million) deal to develop next-generation vaccines against COVID-19 with German biotech firm CureVac .
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.8pc, with financial stocks, mainly HSBC Holdings and Barclays PLC leading the gains. The mid-cap index added 1.5pc.
Burberry jumped 3.5% as underlying sales fell 9% in the three months ended December, but the company said it remained confident in the future, buoyed by sales growth of 11% in Asia-Pacific stores.