Pfizer raised the price of its covid- 19 vaccine by more than 25%, after trial data showed that the jabs were more effective than cheaper shots developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Contracts seen by the Financial Times, relating to the European Union’s procurement deals, showed that the price of a Pfizer dose increased to €19.50 (U$23.14) from €15.50.

South Korean exports jumped to a record high in July as demand for microchips and petrochemical products continued to grow. Exports rose by 29.6% compared with a year earlier,reaching U$55. 4bn,the biggest monthly tally since records began in 1956. The boost in activity comes as the country is battling its worst outbreak of covid-19 yet.