Wall Street falls, and European stock exchanges follow suit, with yesterday's positive climate that in a moment seems to have disappeared, a classic stock market situation. The index that holds better is the NASDAQ, S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The NASDAQ holds better because it comprises stocks from the tech sector that have consistently performed well during the pandemic. Powell is holding his testimony tonight. There will be a lot of volatility in the markets, and in the reserved room, we will probably trade EUR/USD.
The news that follows on the Omicron variant is fluctuating. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that its spread could pose a 'very high' global risk. Professor Salim Abdool Karim, a senior South African expert on infectious diseases, said current vaccines are likely to effectively prevent severe symptoms and hospitalizations in the event of contagion.
The CEO of Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), Stephane Bancel, does not seem of the same opinion, who told CNBC that vaccines might not be enough. The company could launch a new formulation of its vaccine in early 2022.
Other pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), are studying the variant and its resistance. BioNTech has announced that it has begun work on a specific vaccine against Omicron, a company standard procedure for new variants, according to a statement published by BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), which collaborates with Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) in the production of the vaccines. In the same sector, Merck Citi has lowered the recommendation to Neutral from Buy.
In Europe, the stock exchanges are falling violently, DAX. New lows of 14900 may already arrive today, even FTSE MIB has sold off.
Hot Stocks and Assets
BTS Group (OTC:BTSGY) is up on the London Stock Exchange, on rumors that Indian group Reliance Industries is considering a possible offer for the UK's largest telephone company. A spokesperson for BT declined to comment.
In Paris, the group, Faurecia (PA:EPED), one of the largest automotive component manufacturers in the world, has cut its guidance for the fiscal year 2021. The leading cause is the decline in European auto production, one-off costs in the United States, and the continuous stop and goes decided by OEMs.
Oil: New collapse for oil prices, heading towards 67. The OPEC meeting is very close. Positive surprises could arrive with the cartel that could cut production.
Natural gas: New collapse for gas prices, warmer than expected weather contributes to the collapse, December could be a black month for prices. With normal gas production, there is no longer the expected shortage of supply.