Pound gets boost as phase II of vaccine roll out begins after 15mln jab target is

The Market Report with Katie Pilbeam. FTSE 100 jumped higher as the UK widened its vaccinating programme after it hit its target of offering the first dose to 15mln priority people by mid-February. London’s leading index jumped 78 points to 6,668 in early trading.

In total, more than 15 million people in the UK have now had their first dose of the Corona Virus vaccine. From now on the over-65s and younger people in at-risk groups will be offered the jab.

The pound also hit its highest level in nearly three years on the back of the vaccination news. Against the US dollar it now trades at US$1.39.  

Infamous fund manager Neil Woodford has announced plans to set up a new investment business advising professional investors instead of retail customers. He also apologised for the collapse of Woodford Equity Income Fund two years ago.  

All Bar One and O’Neill’s owner PLC () is to raise £350mln through an open offer to cope amid the current lockdown. boss Tim Martin meanwhile said the pub industry is on its knees and needs a clear re-opening timeline.

Among the small caps, () achieved a sixfold increase in revenue in the six months to the end of November.  The global immuno-diagnostics group said the period saw a marked increase in commercial activity for its ImmunoSIGHTS services. Mode-

Global-Holdings-PLC () will launch its novel payments and loyalty solution powered by Open Banking in the second quarter of 2021. This will provide merchants with “an alternative to rising card interchange fees” and boost loyalty amongst consumers, it said.

Synairgen () said dosing has commenced with its inhaled interferon beta product as part of a US government-funded phase II/III coronavirus clinical trial. The sub-study will evaluate the drug’s potential in people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms not yet requiring hospitalisation.