Global stocks surged to record highs after Pfizer said its experimental vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19, Reuters has reported.

Markets rallied as the data was seen as a victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed over one million people and roiled the world economy.

The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 49 countries, and the S&P 500 hit all-time highs.