FX.co ★ European equity markets closed positively

The AstraZeneca vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on January 29.

According to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, AstraZeneca has pledged that it will deliver 9 million more doses of vaccine to the EU in the first quarter than previously discussed. Also, the pharmaceutical company plans to begin deliveries of the vaccine a week ahead of schedule and increase production capacity in Europe.

The European Union, in accordance with a previously signed agreement, was to receive approximately 80 million doses of the vaccine in the first quarter of this year. But the company's announcement of a lack of production capacity has raised concerns that the EU will receive only about 30 million doses. This is the third vaccine to receive EU regulatory approval. Prior to this, EMA had certified products manufactured by Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna.

Unemployment in 19 eurozone countries in December 2020 remained at the November level of 8.3%, according to data from the Statistical Office of the European Union. Analysts, on average, also forecast December unemployment at 8.3%.

Retail sales in Germany in December 2020 fell by an unprecedented 9.6% from the previous month. At the same time, a decrease in the indicator was recorded for the first time since September. The drop in retail sales was due to the second lockdown due to COVID-19, which led to partial closings of stores from December 16. Analysts had expected a decline in December sales of just 2.6%.

The composite index of the largest enterprises in the region Stoxx Europe 600 climbed 1.24% to 400.77 points.

The British FTSE 100 indicator rose 0.92%, the German DAX - 1.41%, the French CAC 40 - 1.16%. Spain's IBEX 35 and Italy's FTSE MIB added 0.52% and 1.17%, respectively.

Mining stocks listed on European stock exchanges jumped on Monday amid silver futures rallying to an eight-year high. Silver is quickly becoming the favorite of day traders who have united on the Reddit platform, where they coordinate their trading activities.

Fresnillo Plc, the second largest silver producer in Mexico, rose nearly 9% in London trading. Polymetal International Plc gained 5.1%, Polish KGHM Polska Miedz SA - 1.7%.

ASOS Plc rose 6.9% on Monday. The British online apparel retailer has acquired Arcadia Group brands Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT for £ 295m ($ 405m).

Ryanair Holdings Plc gained 1.2%. The Irish company, Europe's largest discounter airline, suffered a net loss in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic, and expects an adjusted after-tax loss in the range of € 850 million to € 950 million for the year.

Julius Baer capitalization decreased by 2.1%. The Swiss Julius Baer Gruppe AG increased its net profit in 2020 by one and a half times, and also announced the start of a new program for the buyback of its own shares worth up to 450 million francs ($ 505 million).