The most virulent HIV variant recognized to science has been discovered in the Netherlands, in accordance to researchers who stated it furnished a worthwhile insight into the way viruses these types of as the one driving Covid-19 can evolve.
Folks contaminated with the VB variant, as it is known, have an normal viral load that is about four periods greater than is normal for HIV an infection and their immune procedure declines 2 times as quickly, placing them at risk of developing Aids extra quickly.
Experts at Oxford university’s Large Data Institute, who declared the discovery with Dutch colleagues in the journal Science, claimed the VB variant was not a danger to public health simply because the antiretroviral remedy utilised routinely to take care of folks with HIV labored properly towards it.
“The worst-case circumstance would be the emergence of a variant that combines higher virulence, substantial transmissibility and resistance to remedy,” said Chris Wymant, the study’s lead author. “The variant we found has only the first two of these homes.”
But the scientists explained the discovery was a timely warning in the mild of the discussion about the way Sars-Cov-2, the virus that triggers Covid-19, was probably to evolve.
“A good deal of folks are commenting that Sars-Cov-2 will evolve to turn into milder because that’s just what viruses do and it’s not in the virus’s desire to eliminate us off,” explained Wymant. “What we genuinely need is much more examples of what viruses do in the genuine entire world — and we see it go in both equally directions, starting to be much more virulent and significantly less virulent. So it surely should not be taken for granted that Sars-Cov-2 will simply come to be milder.”
The VB variant was determined in 17 people today in late 2018 during an intercontinental project called Beehive, which monitors HIV samples from across Europe and Uganda. Since 15 of the people arrived from the Netherlands, the staff then analysed information from 6,700 HIV-positive people today and identified one more 92 scenarios of VB infection throughout the state, bringing the nation’s overall to 109.
“There are in all probability at least a few extra people today in other places who have not been detected nonetheless,” said Wymant. “By creating the genetic sequence of VB openly accessible, we are letting other investigators in other countries to check their individual non-public facts.”
The assessment did not display how the VB variant originated, but the researchers believed it was very likely to have developed in an personal who experienced an unusually prolonged HIV an infection mainly because genetic investigation turned up no intermediate measures in viral evolution. The identical mechanism has been proposed for the origin of Sars-Cov-2 variants, such as Omicron.
While VB unfold more promptly than other variants for the duration of the 2000s, it is now declining alongside with HIV as a complete in the Netherlands. The scientists reported the variant arose in spite of prevalent cure for HIV, not because of it, since antiretroviral remedy suppresses transmission.
Joel Wertheim, an evolutionary virologist at the University of California San Diego who was not involved in the analyze, explained HIV was getting to be significantly less virulent in Uganda and much more virulent in the US. The biological motives for these adjustments are mysterious.
“The HIV and Sars-Cov-2 pandemics clearly show how viruses can and will evolve greater virulence when favoured by natural collection,” he added.
Look at out what is actually clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
Travelers are having a tough Xmas Eve at the airport because of in aspect to the coronavirus omicron variant.
According to Flight Aware, United Airways canceled at least 185 flights for Friday, about 9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of its prepared routine, and a further 167 that had been slated for Saturday.
FOX Business enterprise has discovered 21 instances exactly where United Airlines cancellations on Xmas Eve are instantly attributed to the coronavirus, stating that staffing issues have induced the cancellation.
For a flight from Denver to Newark scheduled for Friday, for illustration, the adhering to message is demonstrated on the United Airlines internet site: “Your flight is canceled owing to an enhance in Covid scenarios restricting crew availability. We are sorry for disrupting your holiday getaway plans and for the inconvenience.”
A United Airways spokesperson verified to FOX Business that the nationwide spike in coronavirus omicron variant cases has disrupted some of their flights.
DELTA Airlines REQUESTS THAT ISOLATION Period FOR BREAKTHROUGH Bacterial infections BE Slice, Phone calls Guidance Out-of-date
Holiday break travelers check in at an American Airways ticket kiosk at Pittsburgh Intercontinental Airport in Imperial, Pa., Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (AP Image/Gene J. Puskar / AP Newsroom)
“The nationwide spike in Omicron instances this week has experienced a immediate impact on our flight crews and the persons who operate our operation. As a result, we have however had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted shoppers in advance of them coming to the airport. We’re sorry for the disruption and are operating really hard to rebook as numerous people as doable and get them on their way for the holidays,” the spokesperson stated.
United Airlines is not the only airline experience the impression of the omicron variant, as Delta Air Strains is also blaming the omicron variant for some flight cancellations.
In accordance to Flight Aware, Delta Air Lines canceled at minimum 165 flights on Friday, and 238 for Saturday.
“We apologize to our customers for the hold off in their holiday getaway travel plans. Delta folks are functioning really hard to get them to the place they need to have to be as quickly and as securely as possible on the following out there flight,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Flight cancellations are due to a combination of concerns, together with but not limited to, possible inclement temperature in some parts and the influence of the Omicron variant.”
Vacation tourists check out in at the Southwest Airlines counter at Pittsburgh Global Airport in Imperial, Pa., Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021.AP Picture/Gene J. Puskar) (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar / AP Newsroom)
FAUCI Suggests MASKS ON PLANES WILL Constantly BE Essential
Delta Air Strains Main Executive Officer Ed Bastian and other health-related officers explained in a Dec. 21 letter to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Facilities for Ailment Handle and Avoidance, that the isolation rules for vaccinated folks must be revisited.
In its place, Bastian and Delta’s clinical officers proposed a 5-working day isolation interval from the time that indicators get started, stating that the omicron variant might “exacerbate shortages and build substantial disruptions.”
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Vacation travellers departing Chicago’s Midway Intercontinental Airport test-in and retrieve bag tags as a Southwest Airlines flight arrives Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Newsroom)
“With the speedy unfold of the Omicron variant, the 10-day isolation for those who are totally vaccinated may perhaps considerably effects our workforce and operations. Identical to healthcare, police, hearth, and general public transportation workforces, the Omicron surge may possibly exacerbate shortages and produce sizeable disruptions. Further more, all airline personnel are expected to mask at airports and on airplanes,” the letter states.
Airlines for The united states, a trade firm symbolizing various U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Traces, and United Airlines, also wrote a letter to Dr. Walensky in support of the 5-day isolation suggestion.
On Dec. 23. the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA wrote a independent letter to the Centers for Disorder Manage and Prevention, stating that they assistance the existing 10-day isolation recommendation.
The stock market has been hit with a double whammy of unsavory news, explains Charles Schwab Chief Investment Officer Liz Ann Sonders.
“I think at this stage in the economic cycle and the market cycle, the move from very loose policy to tighter policy has been a factor in the volatility [we are seeing]. You add that to an environment where we started to see a tremendous amount of speculative froth and then add to that Omicron [concerns], you get the double whammy catalysts that sometimes can cause an eruption in volatility,” said Sonders on Yahoo Finance Live.
The heightened volatility reflects the one-two punch of Omicron variant concerns and surprisingly hawkish testimony to lawmakers by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell this week.
Indeed, the markets continue to endure a turbulent stretch as a result, which began with an awful 1,000-plus point loss for the Dow Jones Industrial Average on the day after Thanksgiving.
The Dow plunged 652 points in Tuesday trading, while the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 were also deeply in the red. All 30 Dow components were in the red for the session, except for Apple and Merck.
Tepid action persisted into Wednesday, with the Dow reversing a 520-point intraday gain to finish down 461 points. Markets were in the green by early afternoon trading Thursday, but traders remain on high alert.
Sonders is in good company with her view on the Fed injecting unknown into the markets.
“I think the risk for the market generally is how the market responds to the Federal Reserve kind of tightening up financial conditions,” Pershing Square Capital founder Bill Ackman told Yahoo Finance. “I think that’s the risk for the market.”
As for what moves one should be making in this riskier market backdrop, there continues to be a firm bull camp on Wall Street who believe buying dips is prudent.
“I think if there are certain names you have been wanting to add to your portfolio, you can use [weakness] to your advantage,” said Crossmark Global Investments Victoria Fernandez on Yahoo Finance Live. Fernandez believes the market reaction to this week’s news has been “overdone.”
Fernandez said she is buying Apple’s stock on weakness, for instance.
Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management.
Adam Jeffery | CNBC
Investor Bill Ackman said the new omicron variant of the coronavirus could actually give U.S. stocks a boost if symptoms turn out to be less severe.
“While it is too early to have definitive data, early reported data suggest that the Omicron virus causes ‘mild to moderate’ symptoms (less severity) and is more transmissible,” Ackman said in a tweet Sunday evening. “If this turns out to be true, this is bullish not bearish for markets.”
The founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management added it would be bullish for the equity market and bearish for the bond market.
First detected in South Africa, the new Covid variant has now been found in more than a dozen countries, causing many to restrict travel from southern Africa. The World Health Organization labeled the omicron strain a “variant of concern” on Friday when the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 900 points to suffer its worst day since October 2020.
Covid symptoms linked to the omicron variant have been described as “extremely mild” by the South African doctor who first raised the alarm over the new strain.
Still, the WHO said it will take weeks to understand how the variant may affect diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
Ackman’s comments have been widely watched throughout the health crisis and the market’s turbulent ride over the past two years. At the height of the Covid-19 crisis in March 2020, Ackman came on CNBC to warn investors that “hell is coming” and urged President Donald Trump and corporate America to shut down the country for 30 days to contain the outbreak, calling it the only option to rescue the economy.
Days after the interview, Ackman revealed his firm exited the short positions just as the S&P 500 bottomed, pocketing more than $2 billion in bets against markets that month.
In July when Wall Street was grappling with the Covid delta variant, Ackman said it doesn’t pose a significant threat to the economic reopening and he sees interest rates rising on the back of the big comeback.
More recently at the end of October, the hedge fund manager called for the Federal Reserve to begin reining in the support it has provided to the economy during the pandemic. He said the central bank should “taper immediately and begin raising rates as soon as possible.”
Pershing Square manages about $13 billion in assets and the hedge fund was up 27.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} through October and 21.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} net of fees, according to the company’s statements. It followed a banner 2020 during which the fund returned a whopping 70.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on net.
Ackman has been betting big on a rebound in the restaurant, retail and hotel industries. His top holdings at the end of the third quarter included Lowe’s, Hilton, Restaurant Brands and Chipotle. He picked up Domino’s Pizza shares earlier this year following a pullback.
U.S. stock benchmarks suffered withering losses on Friday as stock and commodity markets plunged, after scientists detected a new COVID variant in South Africa that could be to blame for a recent sharp surge in cases, especially in Europe.
U.S. markets were closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and ended at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, three hours earlier than usual, and bond market trading ends at 2 p.m., an hour earlier than is typical.
How are stock-index futures trading?
The S&P 500
SPX, -2.27{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
fell 106.84 points, or 2.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, to 4,594.62.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA, -2.53{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
slumped 905.04 points, or 2.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, to 34,899.34, with the index logging the worst daily drop since Oct. 28, 2020, according to FactSet data.
The decline for the Dow saw it mark its first close below its 50-day moving average at 35,261.93 since Oct. 14.
The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP declined 353.57 points, or 2.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, to15,491.66.
The decline for the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq Composite posted their worst Black Friday performance since 1950.
On Wednesday, the Dow industrials
DJIA, -2.53{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
fell 9.42 points to finish nearly flat at 35,804.38. The S&P 500
SPX, -2.27{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
slipped 0.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to close at 4,701.46, just 0.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} below its Nov. 18 record close of 4,704.54, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The Nasdaq Composite Index
COMP, -2.23{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
rose 0.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to 15,84.23.
What’s driving the market?
It was an ugly day for stock investors during a thinly traded Black Friday session, which was susceptible to big swings on alarming news from public health officials who were assessing a new variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Late in the session, the World Health Organization’s technical advisory group assigned the B. 1.1.529 variant of the virus the Greek letter omicron and declared it a “variant of concern,” as it did with the delta variant.
Fear of a new variant overshadowed the usual focus on U.S. Black Friday shopping day, which puts the focus on retailers as consumers shop for bargains.
Particularly notable about the variant is the “large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” the WHO group said in a statement. The mutations could make omicron more resistant to the current batch of vaccines.
The discovery of the new COVID strain was announced on Friday by South Africa’s health minister Joe Phaahla. He said scientists were concerned because of its high number of mutations and the dramatic surge in infections the country had seen over the past four or five days.
“The pandemic and COVID variants remain one of the biggest risks to markets, and are likely to continue to inject volatility over the next year(s),” wrote Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer and chief market strategist at Truist Advisory Services, in a Friday note. “It’s hard to say at this point how lasting or impactful this latest variant will be for markets,” the analyst wrote.
The omicron strain has been detected in Botswana and in Hong Kong in travelers who had visited South Africa.
“The one bull in the China shop that could truly derail the global recovery has always been a new strain of Covid-19 that swept the world and caused the reimposition of mass social retractions,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst, at OANDA, in a note. “All we know so far is the B. 1.1.529 is heavily mutated but markets are taking no chances.”
“Just when you thought Covid was being controlled in a holiday shortened week,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research, in emailed comments.
“‘It makes sense to have a market significant correction given the high level of uncertainty.’”
— Jay Hatfield, CEO and portfolio manager at Infrastructure Capital Management
Trading around the Thanksgiving holiday is often associated with lower trading volumes as traders typically wait until Monday to return to work. There was no U.S. economic data on the calendar for Friday.
After new cases stabilized at 200 a day, South Africa reported more than 1,200 on Wednesday and 2,465 on Thursday.
The U.K. government is banning flights from South Africa along with five other African nations, effective Friday.
“Predictably, energy, travel related and financials are the leading decliners and treasuries are rallying,” wrote Jay Hatfield, CEO and portfolio manager at Infrastructure Capital Management, in emailed comments on Friday.
“It makes sense to have a market significant correction given the high level of uncertainty,” the money manager wrote.
“At this stage very little is known,” Deutsche Bank strategists, led by Jim Reid, told clients in a note. “Mutations are often less severe so we shouldn’t jump to conclusions but there is clearly a lot of concern about this one. Also South Africa is one of the world leaders in sequencing so we are more likely to see this sort of news originate from there than many countries. Suffice to say at this stage no one in markets will have any idea which way this will go.”
Read: Facing the biggest inflation surge in 30 years, shoppers expect to spend a lot more this holiday season
Which companies are in focus?
Drugmaker stocks were on the rise, including Pfizer PFE advanced by 6.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and Moderna MRNA stock rallied by about 21{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
Travel-related stocks were on the backfoot: Expedia EXPE fell nearly 9,5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
Shares of airliners and cruise ships Delta Air Lines DAL, fell 8.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, Norwegian Cruise NCLH, down 11.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and Royal Caribbean RCL shares slid 13{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, United Airlines UAL declined 9.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, Southwest Airlines LUV shares dropped 4.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, American Airlines’s AAL stock slumped 8.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
Meanwhile, shares of companies associated with the stay-at-home trade were set to rise, including Netflix NFLX rose 1.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and Peloton Interactive Inc.
PTON, +5.67{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
advanced 3.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, while Zoom Video Communications Inc. shares
ZM, +5.72{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
rallied 5.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
How are other markets faring?
The 10-year Treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y retreated by more than 10 basis points to ell to around 1.54{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, versus 1.644{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET. The bond market was closed on Thursday in observance of U.S.
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index DXY, a measure of the currency against a basket of six major rivals, was down 0.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
Gold futures for December delivery GCZ21 rose less than 0.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to trade at $1,785.30 an ounce. U.S. oil futures CLF22 traded off more than 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} at around $68.27 a barrel.
The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP closed 3.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} lower, and London’s FTSE 100 index UKX also gave up 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
In Asia, the Shanghai Composite SHCOMP finished off 0.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} higher, while the Hang Seng Index HSI lost 2.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in Hong Kong. China’s CSI 300 000300 declined 0.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and Japan’s Nikkei 225 NIK finished 2.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} lower.
U.S. stocks plunged on Friday, with global markets rattled by a new coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa, which fanned concerns that new growth-crushing lockdowns could be imposed if the variant spreads widely.
Trading volumes were low due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., which may have exacerbated the volatility.
However, major benchmarks fell sharply during the holiday-shortened session, with the Dow (^DJI) diving by more than 900 points — logging its worst day of the year and its third worst Thanksgiving selloff ever. Meanwhile, S&P 500 (^GSPC) sank by over 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, its biggest drop since February, and the Nasdaq (^IXIC) also fell sharply, but its losses were partly contained by a rally in stay-at-home stocks.
A new coronavirus variant has been discovered in South Africa, leading to an emergency session of the World Health Organization. Dubbed “Omicron,” scientists say the new B.1.1.529 strain is a concern, because it harbors a large number of mutations found in other variants — including the fast-spreading Delta variant that exploded over much of the summer — and it seems to be rapidly spreading.
While there’s no evidence yet, health officials are worried that the mutating variant could dilute or resist the efficacy of vaccines.
“It goes without saying that it’s still too early to say exactly how big a threat the new B.1.1.529 strain poses to the global economy,” Neil Shearing, Group Chief Economist at Capital Economics, said in a note.
Still, “the lesson from the past couple of years is that it’s the restrictions that are imposed in response to the virus – rather than the virus itself – that causes the bulk of the economic damage. So, the key question is how governments will respond in the event that the B.1.1.529 strain spreads,” Shearling wrote.
“That in turn will hinge on the extent to which it escapes the vaccines and, importantly, causes strains in national healthcare systems,” he added — underscoring that governments in the U.S. and U.K. had taken a “learn to live with the virus” approach, and thus are far less likely than other regions to impose new restrictions.
BioNTech (BNTX) said on Friday it expects more data on the new coronavirus variant in South Africa within two weeks to help its shots should be reworked, and that the company and Pfizer (PFE) — its vaccine partner — could redesign its vaccine within 6 weeks, with an aim to distribute it within 100 days.
Pfizer surged as much as 8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to record, signaling that the new variant could create demand for the vaccine.
While fears of COVID-19 dominated investors’ attention for much of 2020 and 2021, Pfizer confirms it could make variant vaccine in 100 days with the ability to make four billion doses in the first 12 months, according to Citi analyst Andrew Baum.
Travel and leisure-related stocks were among those hit the hardest early Friday, with Carnival Corp (CCL) and Royal Caribbean (RCL) down by 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in premarket trading. United Airlines (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and American Airlines were down each 7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} each. Boeing slipped 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide fell more than 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
Travel platform Expedia (EXPE) was the fifth-worst performer in the S&P 500, dropping by 11{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during the shortened trading day, while home sharing site Airbnb (ABNB) was down more than 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
On the flip side, stay-at-home stocks gained Zoom (ZM) up 9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, while Netflix (NFLX) bounded higher by 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
Oil prices also swooned to the lowest levels in more than two months Friday sparking fears about a slowdown in demand.
U.S. oil dropped 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} its the worst day since April 2020, with U.S. crude futures down 6.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to $73.57 per barrel on perceived fears of falling demand amid the new variant.
Bond yields have also fallen as the market’s inflation fears temporarily gave way to the desire for safe-haven assets. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note was down to 1.53{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after closing at 1.63{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on Wednesday.
“We’re still in a place where yields are so low that the safe haven of bonds isn’t as safe as it looks,” ProShares’ Simeon Hyman told Yahoo Finance Live on Friday. “You’re making not that much today on that little bit of rally in treasuries, so it’s a tough spot.”
Banks, which benefit from the higher interest rates, were broadly weaker as bond yields declined. Bank of America sinks 5.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, Wells Fargo drops 6.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, Citigroup loses 4.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, JPMorgan declines 4.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, Goldman Sachs sheds 3.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and Morgan Stanley tumbled 4.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
__
1:00 p.m. ET: Stocks slump on Black Friday, as new variant spooks investors
Here were the main moves in markets as of 1:00 p.m. ET:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -106.65 (-2.27{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,594.81
Dow (^DJI): -903.59 (-2.52{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,900.79
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -353.57 (-2.23{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 15,491.66
Crude (CL=F): +$9.73 (-12.41{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $68.66 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): -$1.10 (-0.06{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,785.40 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.4 bps to yield 1.54{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
11:15 a.m. ET: Carnival, travel slumps on fears of South African Covid variant
Cruise lines stocks continues to retreat as covid fears swelled. Carnival Corp (CCL) shed more than 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, while Royal Caribbean (RCL) sunk more than 11{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.
11:10 a.m. ET: Stocks slump midday
Here’s where markets were trading midday:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -93.46 (-1.99{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,608.00
Dow (^DJI): -913.69 (-2.55{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,890.69
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -318.08 (-2.02{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 15,523.46
Crude (CL=F): -$9.24 (-11.79{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $69.15 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): $13.30 (0.75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,797.60 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.49 bps to yield 1.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
10:30 a.m. ET: The end of the interest rate differential play?
Friday’s decidedly risk-off tone is calling into question the level of aggressiveness with which the Federal Reserve may pull back on its stimulus. Only a day ago, some thought the rapid surge in prices could prompt the Fed to speed up a taper — or even hike rates faster.
What a difference a day makes. Marc Chandler at Bannockburn Global FX, pointed out in a research note that the rise of a new variant is scrambling Fed expectations versus the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan:
The dollar’s rally has been fueled by the prospect of a divergence of monetary policy that favored the Fed over the ECB and BOJ. Indeed, since the November 10 surprise jump in the October CPI to above 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, we had emphasized the likelihood that the Fed would have to taper quicker to give it the flexibility to lift rates earlier if needed. Since then, 4-5 Fed officials and several large banks have also underscored this possibility. However, this scenario is being called into question today, which is evident in the swaps markets and the Fed funds futures.
9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks open sink
Here’s where markets were trading just before the opening bell:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -66.85 (-1.42{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,634.61
Dow (^DJI): -848.78 (-2.37{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,955.60
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -133.91 (-0.83{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 15,708.01
Crude (CL=F): -$5.34 (-6.81{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $73.05 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): $21.20 (1.19{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,805.50 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.52 bps to yield 1.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 30, 2021 in New York City. In afternoon trading the Dow was down over 250 points as investors continue to worry about inflation, wages and supply chain issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
