- Gains in Japan helped MSCI’s Asia-Pacific gauge rise for a third day. US contracts were steady after the S&P 500 closed in on its record high. Trading volumes thinned in many markets ahead of Christmas.
- Investors bets are growing the latest COVID variant won’t derail global growth, even as officials remain cautious about its spread. A trio of studies signalled Omicron may be less likely to land patients in hospital than delta, while lab results indicated a third dose of AstraZeneca’s vaccine significantly boosted antibodies against the strain. additionally, Pfizer’s COVID pill gained clearance for emergency use in the US.
- The dollar and Treasury yields remained stable.
