LONDON: Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 index bounced off a near four-month low on Monday as Astrazeneca and GlaxoSmithKline rose on news about their respective COVID-19 vaccines, while a weaker pound helped exporters.

The FTSE 100 ended 2.4% higher after a three-week losing streak, with Astrazeneca's stock move providing the biggest boost to the index as the British drugmaker struck a deal with Australia's CSL to manufacture its coronavirus vaccine.

Meanwhile, GlaxoSmithKline also rose on new details on the pricing of its vaccine.

Britain's domestically-focussed FTSE 250 rose for the first time in three sessions, up 1.7%, after a US-technology rout spread into other sectors last week.

Still, trading volumes were muted on account of a US market holiday.

British stocks sank further from pre-pandemic highs last week, as doubts persisted over an economic recovery.

Shares of homebuilders jumped 2.3% after data showed British house prices hit a record high in August, adding to signs of a post-lockdown housing market boom.

And Associated British Foods rose 0.5% after saying trading in its latest quarter exceeded expectations.