FTSE upbeat as Brexit talks look hopeful after Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain removal

FTSE 100 made a positive start of the week as hopes for a Brexit deal followed the departure of Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain from Boris Johnson’s advisory team. London’s leading index advanced 41 points to 6,358 in early deals.

() might be about to lose its exclusive letters and parcels deal with the Post Office. The Post Office is reportedly looking to secure deals with competitors such as Amazon.

Belgian company Janssen has launched a trial for its COVID-19 vaccine in the UK. It will enrol 6,000 people as part of a global study of 30,000 participants. () plans to cut over 800 jobs to protect its profits. The baker entered consultations with unions in September after completing a review of the business.

Among the small caps,  PLC () said demand for subsidiary P2F’s  antiviral face masks might outstrip current production line capacity of 5mln per month. To meet the need, P2F will outsource some manufacturing until its own additional production lines are in place.

 Group PLC () has received UK approval to proceed with clinical testing for Project WAVE, a respiratory device it has designed for use in neonatal intensive care. Trials will begin in the next few months at the Trevor Mann Baby Unit at Brighton & Sussex University Hospital.  Oracle

Power PLC () has acquired two promising-looking gold projects in Western Australia.  The Northern Zone Project is located 25 kilometres east of the major gold mining centre of Kalgoorlie and hosts multiple significant historical drill hits.