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UK stocks opened lower on Monday, with oil companies weighing, as mounting Covid-19 cases stoke fears of a short-lived recovery in the global economy.
At 0826, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 63.6 points, or 1.0%, at 6,226.70.
BP dropped 2.5% to 301.66p and Shell 2.4% to £12.718 amid a fall in oil prices.
Respiratory drug developer Synairgen soared 161% to 95.4p, having announced positive results from a trial of a treatment for hospitalised Covid-19 patients, which it described as a potential 'major breakthrough'.
The trial showed the inhaled treatment 'greatly reduced' the number of patients who progressed from requiring oxygen to requiring ventilation. Patients also were at least twice as likely to recover to the point where their everyday activities were not compromised.
Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline reversed 1.7% to £16.3216 as it invested £104m for a 10% stake in biotech company CureVac, while both companies agreed to develop vaccines and antibodies targeting infectious diseases.
Healthcare investor Syncona rose 0.8% to 256.1p after portfolio company Freeline Therapeutics filed a registration statement regarding a proposed initial public offering in the US. Freeline was a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on gene therapy targeting the liver.
Guarantor loans provider Amigo plunged 18% to 7.97p on warning about its financial future after swinging to a loss, as loan impairments jump amid the Covid-19 pandemic and faces fines from regulators.
Oil company Premier Oil slipped 2.5% to 40.66p, even as it signed new agreements for the acquisition of BP's Andrew and Shearwater assets in the North Sea, at reduced sum from the original sale price.
Recruitment company SThree slipped 1.9% to 266.31p, having booked a 43% drop in first-half profit and scrapped its interim dividend.
Communications services provider Gamma Communications rallied 5.1% to £15.45 on announcing that it expected its annual earnings and revenue to beat market expectations.
Brake bad supplier Surface Transforms advanced 3.9% to 27p after guiding for a 55% jump in first-half sales despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the company and its customers.
Self-care consumer goods group Venture Life leapt 17% to 84.51p as it boosted its first-half revenue 80%, while inking eight new distribution agreements.
Invoicing software group Tungsten shed 1.4% to 38.95p, even as its annual revenue grew 2%, helping it to meet operating earnings guidance.
Cell-based therapeutics developer ReNeuron gained 3.9% to 142.12p after it booked a full-year loss owing to progress on the development of its treatments, including for the eye condition retinitis pigmentosa.