- Stocks gained alongside US futures as market confidence strengthened that the global recovery will be able to withstand the Omicron flareup.
- Travel and leisure and financial stocks bolstered European shares amid thin trading ahead of Christmas, while US contracts moved up, with the S&P 500 index approaching a record high. Tesla gained ground in premarket trade as Elon Musk sold more stock. Japan's rise buoyed Asian stocks.
- Investors are betting that the latest COVID type will not disrupt global development, despite regulators' concerns about its spread. A trio of studies suggested that Omicron may be less likely to land people in the hospital than Delta, while antiviral medicines and booster shots are becoming more widely available. This is assisting markets that have been thrown for a loop by virus fears, tighter policy, and a bleak outlook for US fiscal stimulus.
- The dollar remained stable, while treasury yields increased. The pound surged to its highest level in almost a month as traders increased their bets on a rate hike by the Bank of England. They see 1.25% rate by end-2022.
- European gas declines as much as 20% amid a wave of US LNG.
- Ukrainian President's Office: Ukraine is moderately optimistic about de-escalation possibilities.
- All domestic flights in China have been cancelled for Thursday due to the virus - Paper.
