Investors hoped the rollout of vaccines would ultimately lift the global economy that's being decimated by the covert 19 pandemic.

European shares rallied as a landmark Brexit trade deal and Corona virus vaccination campaigns bolstered expectations of a strong rebound.

The PAN Regional Stock 600 index gained around a percent, while economically sensitive mining and travel and leisure stocks jumped more than 3%.

Germany listed shares in the world's biggest holiday company, T U i rose 8.3% after its chief executive told a newspaper that he expects a largely normal summer this year.

Asian stock markets also gained, although Japan's Nikkei index shed early gains.

That was after its prime minister confirmed the government was considering a state of emergency for Tokyo and some surrounding areas.

As the virus spreads, investors are still sounding caution over the path of the pandemic.

The virus retains the upper hand for a while longer, one analyst told Reuters.

Britain began vaccinating its population with the shot developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca on Monday.