Equities, oil prices rocket on coronavirus vaccine hope

European stock markets and oil prices rocketed Monday on coronavirus vaccine hopes following successful trials.

Already up strongly on Joe Biden's US election win, markets massively accelerated gains after Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said their vaccine was 90 percent effective in preventing Covid-19 infections.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 stocks index surged 4.8 percent in midday deals.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt jumped 5.2 percent and Paris soared 6.6 percent.

Dow Jones futures were up 5.4 percent ahead of the Wall Street open.

Share prices of airlines led the way, with British Airways parent IAG up more than 25 percent.

Air France-KLM and Lufthansa made similar jumps -- as the news came as a huge relief to a sector battered by virus travel restrictions.

'Spicy cocktail'

"Stock markets surged on some extremely positive news from Pfizer and BioNTech," said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com.

"The Dow is now seen up 1,300 points (at the official open). Coming on top of the wave of relief from Joe Biden's victory, it's proving a spicy cocktail for stocks."

New York crude advanced 8.9 percent and Brent North Sea oil was up 8.1 percent.

The dollar was down versus the euro and pound -- and up around 1.5 percent against the yen.

US currency direction was influenced also by expectations of a big spending bill and American interest rates being kept at record lows for the foreseeable future.

Gold futures, seen as a safe haven investment, were down two percent.

Biden effect

Stock markets began rallying Monday as Biden's election win reduced uncertainty and provided hope that the US would finally agree on a stimulus package to prop up the ailing economy. 

While Democrat Biden has secured enough votes for victory, Republican rival Donald Trump has refused to accept defeat, with legal challenges and recounts looming. 

Oanda analyst Craig Erlam said Trump's actions are seen by markets "as achieving nothing more than delaying the inevitable".

Stocks already began surging last week as it became apparent that Biden was on course for victory and that Republicans would likely hold the Senate, allowing them to rein in any big regulatory or tax policies.

On Monday in Asia, Tokyo's main stocks index closed up more than two percent to end at a 29-year high before the seismic Pfizer announcement.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore and Seoul all gained more than one percent, while Bangkok rose over two percent.

Focus on stimulus

Traders are looking to Capitol Hill, hoping for a fresh rescue package for the US economy after lawmakers failed to hammer out anything ahead of the vote despite months of haggling.

"More fiscal support is likely forthcoming," said Invesco strategist Brian Levitt. 

"While it may not be the outsize fiscal package that the Democrats had envisioned, it will likely be large enough to provide an additional boost to the economic recovery."

Analysts said a new stimulus was crucial for helping the economy as coronavirus spreads rapidly through the United States, with almost 10 million people having contracted it there.

Key figures around 1300 GMT

London - FTSE 100: UP 4.8 percent at 6,193.73 points

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 5.2 percent at 13,129.33

Paris - CAC 40: UP 6.6 percent at 5,287.28

EURO STOXX 50: UP 5.8 percent at 3,388.81

West Texas Intermediate: UP 8.9 percent at $40.44 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 8.1 percent at $42.64 per barrel

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1899 from $1.1872 at 2215 GMT

Dollar/yen: UP at 104.93 yen from 103.33 yen

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3177 from $1.3156

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.1 percent to 24,839.84 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.2 percent to 26,016.17 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.9 percent to 3,373.73 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 28,323.40 (close Friday)