Boris Johnson chaos creates fears for London banking jobs

Boris Johnson chaos creates fears for London banking jobs

Anyone who was spread-betting on the variety of ministers to resign from the British Cupboard yesterday would have been effectively exterior their regular risk boundaries fairly speedily all prior data had been soundly broken by the market place close, and new types ongoing to roll in well into the evening.  These days, Boris Johnson is owing to resign right after exhibiting the type of tenacity in the facial area of unpopularity that’s generally connected with European expense banking CEOs.

It’s all fun and games till any individual loses an eye, as they say.  Alongside with Johnson, the exits have integrated Chancellor Rishi Sunak and John Glen, the well-known and properly-regarded minister with obligation for the City of London.  That is a big vacuum at the head of federal government, and a absence of clarity on what is actually going to happen to rather a lot of critical legislation.

For instance, the approach to make London into a global crypto hub is now up in the air.  Building the appropriate regulatory surroundings for a new fiscal marketplace to flourish is a complicated job, requiring energetic political management based on an comprehending of the problems and determination to the coverage.  Owning to get started the full project all about again due to the fact of a adjust at the top rated is a hefty blow all the other metropolitan areas who had been hoping to just take the crypto franchise absent from the British isles have acquired a significant improve.

So that’s a different submit-Brexit option maybe skipped.  And the common ambiance of civic chaos is barely likely to stimulate any world financial institutions to boost or even preserve their existence in London in the encounter of competing pressures to personnel up in the Euro location. Johnson is reportedly planning to stay in area until eventually the autumn, despite war in Europe and rising inflation. An unscheduled Normal Election appears to be possible, with no genuine feeling of who may be foremost just one of the main get-togethers (and no certainty about the other, presented the overhanging possibility that Opposition chief Keir Starmer could possibly have to resign more than a COVID-similar fantastic).

About the only dazzling location for bankers could be that this kind of political uncertainty is normally involved with a sickening lurch downward in the forex (although the pound has so considerably rallied nowadays).  Which suggests that for London bankers working at non-Uk firms where the reward pools are set and awards made a decision in terms of the head place of work domestic currency, the 2022 compensation spherical could possibly go a little bit more when transformed into sterling.  If you’re paid in dollars, you’ve already carried out pretty well so considerably this calendar year a flat bonus on 2021 would be worth 13{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} more.  Blend that with steadily weakening house rates, and if British bankers are however employed at the stop of the yr, they may at the very least be capable to cheer on their own up with a good minimal vacation cottage in the Cotswolds, or a pied-a-terre by the Thames.

On the other hand, having said that nicely-established the problems about the potential, right here and now it has to be admitted that economical sector recruitment is nonetheless crimson incredibly hot.  In accordance to the comprehensive year outcomes of recruitment agency Robert Walters (as offered by its CEO and founder, Robert Walters), fees are up by 25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and the headhunter headcount is up 7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, with employers in “the most popular spots of the City” increasing salaries (on which the recruiters’ commission is calculated) by as substantially as 30{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} when they really need to have new personnel.

Issues have even achieved the point at which the headhunters are finding headhunted.  Robert Walters experienced an worker on £50,000 who remaining this 12 months to go to a new task paying out £110,000.  Interestingly, although, it’s not the “traditional banking and investing jobs” that have been driving factors – which may well be anticipated, as front business using the services of is a specialised industry which tends to go as a result of smaller sized consultants who make a ton a lot more than lower 6 figures.  Robert Walters’ bonanza calendar year has been pushed by technology and compliance using the services of, where by the device measurements are smaller, but the move of mandates is considerably much less cyclical.

Meanwhile …

Extra tales from the crazy earth of American wirehouse broking.  It is the literal Wild West this time, where the Oklahoma Town branch of Morgan Stanley has dismissed monetary advisor Leonard Bernstein after an incident in which his colleague Chris Bayrouth ended up currently being shot five moments.  Mr Bernstein is ninety several years outdated.  Morgan Stanley is looking for to have him barred from the economic expert services market, while this may well be deemed a bit superfluous as he is at present under arrest for tried murder.  (Bloomberg)

If you like to have your social daily life Monday to Friday, Virtu Economical has a vacancy on its crypto buying and selling desk for an individual to work at the weekend.  You are going to have to have coding capabilities (Python, SQL, Java or C++) and to be “a physicalizer a person who identifies difficulties and creates methods devoid of rigid path or fanfare.” (Greenhouse)

The Church of England has named its coming bond difficulty “Cranmer Bonds”, just after a 16th century Archbishop.  If you are supplied them, it’s traditionally correct to make jokes about “best execution” or request whether or not there is a risk that buyers will be “burned” – that’s how Thomas Cranmer ended up. (FT)

Is there a “bro culture” in fintech?  A committee of the US Congress thinks that there may possibly be, and has been keeping hearings on how to get more expenditure in varied companies in the sector (Payments Dive)

Crypto choosing isn’t nonetheless lifeless! Eric Wragge and Puja Samuel, both equally from JP Morgan, have gone to company progress work at the Algorand blockchain and the Digital Forex Group respectively. (Coinbase)

More than 70{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of asset management corporations observed a sizeable raise in the amount of staff leaving to go to tech firms in excess of the last calendar year, according to a survey from Accenture.  The trouble is apparently “cultural inertia” and “fear of failure when it arrives to embracing new technologies”, relatively than anything at all as simple as revenue. (Bloomberg)

JPMorgan has designed a deep hedging motor that utilizes AI to operate out how to hedge derivatives books from raw details. They say it is the most remarkable research in derivatives and pricing administration. (Threat) 

Seem inward, apply curiosity and direct by example.  Which is the information from psychology professors on how to be less judgey, if you have resolved which is anything you want to realize. (Vox)

Click on in this article to make a profile on eFinancialCareers. Make oneself seen to recruiters using the services of for leading careers in technology and finance. 

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Asian Markets Follow Wall St Higher as Recession Fears Ease | Business News

Asian Markets Follow Wall St Higher as Recession Fears Ease | Business News

By JOE McDONALD, AP Business Author

BEIJING (AP) — Asian inventory marketplaces adopted Wall Road larger Friday immediately after two Federal Reserve officers reported the U.S. economic climate may well steer clear of a economic downturn and news experiences mentioned China may possibly increase design paying to promote its having difficulties economic climate.

Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney sophisticated for a next day. Oil price ranges declined but stayed higher than $100 for each barrel.

Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index rose 1.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} on Thursday soon after a member of the Fed panel that sets curiosity rates, James Bullard, stated a “soft landing” for the overall economy however was his “base circumstance.” An additional member of the Fed panel, Christopher Waller, explained “fears of a economic downturn are overblown.”

“Investor economic downturn fears ebbed,” claimed Robert Carnell and Iris Pang of ING in a report.

Political Cartoons

The Shanghai Composite Index highly developed .2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 3,370.85 right after information studies explained China may increase 1.5 trillion yuan ($220 billion) to paying out on community works design this calendar year to promote financial advancement.

The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo attained 1.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 26,869.82 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong included .5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 21,757.04.

The Kospi in Seoul rose .7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 2,350.97 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 was .5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} increased at 6,680.10. New Zealand and Southeast Asian markets innovative.

On Wall Avenue, the S&P 500 rose to 3,902.62 for its fourth everyday maximize. Around 3-fourths of the shares in the index obtained.

The Dow Jones Industrial Typical rose 1.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 31,384 and the Nasdaq composite sophisticated 2.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 11,621.35.

Buyers are uneasy that intense U.S. and European fascination price hikes to great inflation that is functioning at a four-10 years large may well derail world financial growth.

Bullard, who is president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said “it would make a ton of sense” to elevate the U.S. central bank’s vital desire rate by 3-quarters of a share position, or triple the usual margin, at its meeting this month. That would repeat the dramatic mid-June price hike, the Fed’s greatest in 28 a long time.

Waller, talking at a different occasion, stated he also supported a .75-share-point hike. He claimed the Fed could danger “causing some economic harm,” but with a solid labor industry, that shouldn’t be far too large.

The U.S. federal government is owing to report June employment info.

On Thursday, official details confirmed the number of Individuals applying for unemployment rewards topped the 230,000 mark for the fifth consecutive week. It was the optimum level in pretty much six months.

Bloomberg News noted China’s Ministry of Finance was contemplating a plan to allow for regional governments to increase revenue from bond income to spend on building roadways and other community performs.

It was not clear regardless of whether that represented supplemental expending or was upcoming strategies for bond profits introduced forward to support shore up economic advancement some forecasters say fell shut to zero in the quarter ending in June right after anti-virus controls shut down Shanghai and other industrial facilities.

Markets also have been on edge about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which despatched oil and other commodity price ranges soaring.

European markets gained Thursday after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared his resignation next a collection of departures from his Cabinet by members of his Conservative Bash.

In electricity markets, benchmark U.S. crude shed 11 cents to $102.62 for each barrel in electronic buying and selling on the New York Mercantile Trade. The agreement rose $4.20 to $102.73 on Thursday. Brent crude, the rate foundation for international buying and selling, get rid of 12 cents to $104.53 per barrel in London. It obtained $3.96 the past session to $104.65.

The greenback declined to 135.80 yen from Thursday’s 136.11 yen. The euro gained to $1.0170 from $1.0156.

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Stock Market Today: Nuclear Fears Overshadow Stellar February Jobs Number

Stock Market Today: Nuclear Fears Overshadow Stellar February Jobs Number

Wall Street couldn’t have asked for any more out of the February jobs report, but a fresh escalation of danger in Eastern Europe was more than enough to keep stocks grounded to end the week.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday said that 678,000 jobs were created last month, blowing past expectations for 423,000. Moreover, the unemployment rate ticked down even further, to 3.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while average hourly wages shot 5.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} higher.

But casting a long shadow over that news were late Thursday reports that Russia’s military fired upon Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, sparking a fire that was later extinguished. While the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that radiation levels remained normal, the reports revived memories of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster (remember, that happened in Ukraine).

Those concerns appeared to hold equity markets down from the get-go, and the major indexes never recovered. The Nasdaq Composite again led the way lower, off 1.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 13,313, while the S&P 500 (-0.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 4,328) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (-0.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 33,614) also closed solidly in the red.

The “fear trade” was alive and well, however. Gold futures gained another 1.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $1,966.60 per ounce, while U.S. crude oil futures rocketed 7.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} higher to $115.68 per barrel – a closing level not seen since September 2008.

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“Events in Ukraine … are causing risk aversion and a flight to safety as the attack on a nuclear power plant illustrates how dangerous the war is to the entire world, and not just the tremendous suffering of the Ukrainian people,” says Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance.

stock chart for 030422

Other news in the stock market today:

  • The small-cap Russell 2000 declined again, losing 1.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 2,000.
  • Bitcoin suffered another steep decline, off 5.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $39,486.97. (Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day; prices reported here are as of 4 p.m.)
  • Rivian Automotive (RIVN) – which is on next week’s earnings calendar – slid 6.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} after Baird analyst George Gianarikas cut his price target on the electric vehicle (EV) maker to $100 from $150, though this is still more than double the stock’s Friday close at $47.39. “On March 1, Rivian increased prices on its consumer vehicles based on inflationary impacts to its cost structure, only to reverse the changes to its pre-existing order book [on March 3],” Gianarikas writes in a note. While the financial impact to the roll back will be “material,” or around $15,000 per each of the 71,000 book orders, he has “full confidence that Rivian has gathered one of the best management teams and top industry talent to fully capitalize on mobility’s EV revolution.” As such, the analyst maintained an Outperform (Buy) rating on RIVN.
  • Costco Wholesale (COST) saw its fiscal second-quarter revenue jump 16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} year-over-year to $51.9 billion, while earnings per share increased 36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $2.92 per share. The figures were higher than the $2.74 per share and $51.5 billion analysts were expecting. Still, shares slipped 1.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} today. “Investors are likely concerned about merchandise gross margins falling 30 basis points [a basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point] to 10.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} vs. 10.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} consensus,” says CFRA Research analyst Arun Sundaram, who maintained a Hold rating on COST. “While it is difficult for us to be more constructive on the shares at current valuation, especially given the recent carnage to high multiple growth stocks, we think COST shares have support from a few potential catalysts this year, including 1) membership fee hike (potentially as early as June) and 2) special dividend payment (COST has paid four over past 10 years – latest was November 2020 for $10/share).”
  • Travel stocks took a hit today – possibly as a result of spiking oil prices. “We see limited direct impact from disruption to select commercial flight routes due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” says Truist Securities analyst Naved Khan. “However, we see a larger indirect impact from a potential double-digit increase in average airfare due to record-high fuel prices + inflationary pressures.” Among those selling off today were Delta Air Lines (DAL, -5.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), American Airlines (AAL, -7.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) and United Airlines (UAL, -9.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}).

Big Stock Buys of the Billionaires

Today, we’re finishing up our regular examination of the “smart money’s” recent comings and goings.

Our final look explores the top stock picks of 15 billionaire money managers – a group that includes David Tepper, Ray Dalio, Daniel Loeb, Seth Klarman and numerous other elite names.

From Kiplinger’s Dan Burrows: “Studying which stocks they’re chasing with their capital (or which stocks the billionaires are selling off, for that matter) can be an edifying exercise for retail investors. There’s a reason the rich get richer, for one thing. But it’s also helpful to see where billionaires sometimes make mistakes – at least in the short term. All investors are fallible, after all.”

Read on as we look at 15 stock picks that make up outsized portions of these 15 billionaires’ portfolios – including several household names, but a few well-off-the-radar equities as well.

Travel insurance spikes as omicron fuels cancellation fears

Travel insurance spikes as omicron fuels cancellation fears

This week, health officials identified the first cases of the omicron variant in Florida. What that means going forward is still unknown, but it puts future plans at risk all over again.

The uncertainty over more coronavirus outbreaks and closures is leading travelers to buy travel insurance at record rates, according to Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth. The travel insurance agency saw sales increase by 53 percent following the arrival of omicron.

Concerns about canceled travel plans are higher now, compared to the 20 percent spike Squaremouth saw following the delta variant, Moncrief said. Even with delta, the travel industry was still fairly optimistic as borders reopened to foreign travelers.

Related: Tampa International Airport plans to restore routes as U.S. border opens to vaccinated travelers

“Going into the holidays, there was quite a bit of confidence with a lot of destinations open,” Moncrief said. “Then the new variant made everyone a little bit shell shocked.”

Moncrief spoke with the Tampa Bay Times about what’s driving traveler concerns and what travel insurance can cover. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How could the omicron variant impact travel plans?

We spoke to a lot of our customers to gauge concerns. They seem to be shifting more toward travelers worried if they’ll contract COVID-19 or have to quarantine. With the variant, we immediately saw three countries close their borders, one of which is Israel, currently our fourth top international destination, so a very popular country as far as U.S. tourism. We all know those border closings happened last year and caused this huge drop in travel altogether. Travelers had trips booked and then were immediately nervous that the border was once again going to close.

Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth.
Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth. [ ASHLEE HAMON PHOTOGRAPHY, INC | Ashlee Hamon Photography, INC ]

How is the omicron variant affecting expectations that international travel would rebound after the U.S. border reopened to foreign travelers last month?

It’s kind of a wait-and-see pattern right now. We’re seeing a lot of chatter about additional restrictions: more negative tests, vaccines and quarantine requirements potentially upon a return or even arrival. We haven’t seen widespread closures like we did in early 2020. But it’s still pretty early.

Obviously the holidays are a busy travel season. Our sales are up as far as insurance, but that doesn’t mean travel is up. It could just be more scared travelers. Or it could mean more people booking trips and therefore booking insurance.

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Related: Tampa International Airport sees record travelers for Thanksgiving

How should travelers prepare if they want to go out of the country right now?

There’s so much out there and it can be hard to find one place that has the most current information. We’re urging our customers before they even book a travel insurance policy to find out everything that you can from their destination, airlines and hotel. Understand what policies are in place, what requirements there are of you, when do you need to have your negative test, do you need to be vaccinated at your destination?

Don’t spend more money on a policy than you have to on what could already be an expensive trip. Look into a travel insurance policy for any gaps there might be.

What does travel insurance not cover?

The big gap right now is a border closure. Travel insurance policies don’t have the term ‘border closure’ or anything related to a border closure included under a standard trip cancellation policy.

Now, there are a few that will provide coverage for a government-issued travel warning, like a CDC level 4 alert or higher. So that can potentially be helpful in this scenario as long as the policy is purchased before that alert is issued.

Unfortunately, prior to 2020 this was never a main concern. So it’s going to take time for the travel insurance providers to adjust their coverage and adhere to these new and evolving kinds of traveler concerns. So if that is your No. 1 concern — the border closed and you can’t go, or you’re scared of this new variant, maybe you’re high risk or just not comfortable traveling anymore — that’s also not going to be covered under a standard travel insurance policy.

What most policies will cover is contracting COVID-19, whether it was before or during your trip. There are additional types of policies that you can purchase to have more coverage.

Related: Tampa Bay holiday travelers, be wary of flight delays and cancellations

How much has travel insurance changed in the past two years?

We’ve seen a lot of providers already come to the market with quarantine coverage. There’s a focus on coverage for domestic trips or what additional benefits will be applicable to domestic travelers in 2020. And then quite a few have added or increased benefit limits for travel delay to cover quarantine.

We’re also seeing new providers come to the market with ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage. Like it says, you can cancel for any reason. It was hugely popular last year. Our percentage of sales on these policies went from less than 4 percent up to about 30 percent.

A lot of providers are trying to find ways to cover border closures or airline disruptions, but it just takes time. It has to be approved in every state. It has to be rated.

What else should travelers know right now?

If you have a trip booked, months in advance or even just a month in advance, reach out to your travel suppliers and understand your options. The more recently your trip was booked, the more likely you are to have additional benefits that can cover basically anything that can impact your trip. But if you booked your trip months in advance — like we’re seeing from most of our travelers when everyone was pretty confident prior to Thanksgiving weekend — reach out and see what your options are.

Don’t just jump to buy a travel insurance policy. We don’t want you to spend money if it’s not going to have the coverage that you need.

Dow sinks 800 points as new COVID variant fans lockdown fears

Dow sinks 800 points as new COVID variant fans lockdown fears

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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, 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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} 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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in premarket trading. United Airlines (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and American Airlines were down each 7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} each. Boeing slipped 6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide fell more than 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.

Travel platform Expedia (EXPE) was the fifth-worst performer in the S&P 500, dropping by 11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} during the shortened trading day, while home sharing site Airbnb (ABNB) was down more than 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.

On the flip side, stay-at-home stocks gained Zoom (ZM) up 9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while Netflix (NFLX) bounded higher by 2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.

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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} its the worst day since April 2020, with U.S. crude futures down 6.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} 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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} after closing at 1.63{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} 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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, Wells Fargo drops 6.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, Citigroup loses 4.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, JPMorgan declines 4.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, Goldman Sachs sheds 3.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and Morgan Stanley tumbled 4.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

__

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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,594.81

  • Dow (^DJI): -903.59 (-2.52{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,900.79

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -353.57 (-2.23{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,491.66

  • Crude (CL=F): +$9.73 (-12.41{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $68.66 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$1.10 (-0.06{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,785.40 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.4 bps to yield 1.54{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while Royal Caribbean (RCL) sunk more than 11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

11:10 a.m. ET: Stocks slump midday

Here’s where markets were trading midday: 

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -93.46 (-1.99{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,608.00

  • Dow (^DJI): -913.69 (-2.55{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,890.69

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -318.08 (-2.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,523.46

  • Crude (CL=F): -$9.24 (-11.79{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $69.15 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): $13.30 (0.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,797.60 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.49 bps to yield 1.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, 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{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,634.61

  • Dow (^DJI): -848.78 (-2.37{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,955.60

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -133.91 (-0.83{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,708.01

  • Crude (CL=F): -$5.34 (-6.81{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $73.05 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): $21.20 (1.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,805.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.52 bps to yield 1.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

7:55 a.m. ET Friday: Stock futures tumble 

Here’s where markets were trading Friday morning: 

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): 4,623.25, -75.75 (-1.61{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Dow futures (YM=F): 34,973.00, -776.00 (-2.17{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): 16,224.50, -141.50 (-0.86{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

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)

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)

Stocks advance as debt ceiling deadline fears abate

Stocks advance as debt ceiling deadline fears abate

Stocks advanced Thursday, with investors cheering developments in Washington as lawmakers reached an agreement that would temporarily avert a government default by mid-month.  

The three major indexes extended gains after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday morning that lawmakers had reached a deal to extend the government’s debt limit through the beginning of December. Such a move would offer time to prevent a government default that many pundits said could come as soon as around Oct. 18. 

The issue of the debt ceiling has been a focal point for corporate leaders and market participants alike. Earlier Wednesday, President Joe Biden met with top business leaders including JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, who urged lawmakers to raise the debt limit and prevent a government default they warned would be catastrophic to the U.S. economy. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also told CNBC she expected a government default would cause a recession.

“The debt ceiling is one of many factors right now that we think are causing these gyrations in the markets. Certainly the market will take some comfort when there is a deal, when it is more formalized,” Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist for BMO Wealth Management, told Yahoo Finance. 

The ongoing debt ceiling debate has been just one of a number of concerns to the market in recent weeks, which have all come together to catalyze volatility across risk assets. 

In addition to concerns over the debt limit, “markets are looking for some resolution, or at least an end in sight to the supply chain issues, the inflation pressures that are building,” Ma added. “The markets are also starting to look toward the November meeting of the Fed, and hoping that the Fed is not going to show excessive increases in future interest rates as well … So several things are going on.”

A spike in energy and commodity prices has also weighed on investor optimism, reinforcing the persistent trend in rising price pressures across the global economy. 

U.S. crude oil futures gained on Thursday to reverse some of Wednesday’s losses, after Bloomberg reported the U.S. Energy Department said it did not plan to release crude oil from the government strategic petroleum reserve at this time. A day earlier, the Financial Times had reported that U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm had not ruled out tapping the SPR as one means to try and bring prices in check. 

“The surge in energy prices is just going to make all the supply chain issues that we’ve been experienced over the past year even worse. I suspect that the supply chain issues are going to get worse before they get better,” Troy Vincent, senior market analyst at DTN, told Yahoo Finance Live.

4:03 p.m. ET: Stocks post third straight day of gains as lawmakers reach debt-limit deal; Dow adds 338 points, or 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:03 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +36.21 (+0.83{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,399.76

  • Dow (^DJI): +337.95 (+0.98{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,754.94

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +152.10 (+1.05{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,654.02

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.39 (+1.80{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $78.82 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$6.10 (-0.35{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,755.70 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +4.7 bps to yield 1.5710{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

2:14 p.m. ET: Ireland says it will join OECD in backing international minimum corporate tax 

The Irish government announced Thursday that it would join a consortium of 140 countries in signing a proposal for a global agreement on a minimum corporate tax rate.  

The plan, championed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, has called for a minimum 15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} tax on corporate entity profits. Ireland’s announcement comes as a major shift away from the country’s prior stance, which was to promote a 12.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} corporate tax rate as an incentive to attract multinational corporations.

“Joining this agreement is an important decision for the next stage of Ireland’s industrial policy – a decision that will ensure that Ireland is part of the solution in respect to the future international tax framework,” Ireland’s Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said in a statement.

11:22 a.m. ET: Stocks extend gains

The three major indexes added to gains Thursday mid-morning after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the chamber had reached an agreement to extend the debt limit into December avert a government default this month. 

Each of the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq were up at least 1.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in intraday trading, and the small-cap Russell 2000 outperformed with a gain of 2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. The materials, healthcare and consumer discretionary sectors led the way higher in the S&P 500, and all 11 major sectors were in positive territory during the session.

Nearly every component in the 30-stock Dow traded higher on Thursday. Materials company Dow Inc. and Nike outperformed, gaining more than 3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and 2.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, respectively. 

9:32 a.m. ET: Stock futures jump, Dow adds 350+ points, or 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:32 a.m. ET: 

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +37.28 (+0.95{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,405.18

  • Dow (^DJI): +372.34 (+1.07{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,789.33

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +150.61 (+1.04{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,652.31

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.47 (-0.61{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $76.96 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$8.90 (-0.51{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,752.90 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.8 bps to yield 1.552{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

8:55 a.m. ET: Pfizer asks FDA to authorize COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 

Pfizer (PFE) and BioNTech (BNTX) on Thursday said they were submitting data to the Food and Drug Administration to seek emergency use authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 to 11. Shares of both drugmakers were higher in early trading. 

The FDA previously set a tentative advisory committee meeting to discuss the vaccine for pediatric use on Oct. 26. So far, the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval for use in individuals 16 and older, and emergency use authorization for those aged 12 to 15.  

8:35 a.m. ET: Weekly jobless claims fell more than expected last week

New weekly unemployment claims posted a sharper than expected drop last week, with impacts to the labor market relating to Hurricane Ida and the Delta variant beginning to recede.

Initial jobless claims totaled 326,000 for the week ended Oct. 2, the Labor Department said Thursday. This came in below the prior week’s 364,000, which was upwardly revised from the 362,000 previously reported.

As of the week ended Sept. 18, about 4.2 million individuals were claiming benefits across all unemployment programs, compared to 5 million during the prior week. These figures have come down sharply in recent weeks in large part due to the expiration of crisis-era federal unemployment programs on Sept. 6. Continuing jobless claims totaled 2.714 million during the week ended Sept. 25, reaching the lowest level since March 2020. 

7:25 a.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures jump, Nasdaq futures gain 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} 

Stocks headed for a higher open Thursday morning. Here were the main moves across markets: 

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +39.25 points (+0.90{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,393.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +269 points (+0.78{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,560.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +167.00 points (+1.13{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,926.00

  • Crude (CL=F): -$1.12 (-1.45{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $76.31 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$2.70 (+0.15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,764.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -0.3 bps to yield 1.521{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

6:05 p.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures hold higher

Here’s where markets were trading Wednesday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +3.5 points (+0.08{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,357.5

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +25 points (+0.07{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,316.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +15.5 points (+0.11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,774.50

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: People walk by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 16, 2021 in New York City. Despite a rise in retail sales, the Dow slipped lower on Thursday as investors continue to have concerns from the Delta variant and news of a slight rise in jobless claims.  (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 16: People walk by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 16, 2021 in New York City. Despite a rise in retail sales, the Dow slipped lower on Thursday as investors continue to have concerns from the Delta variant and news of a slight rise in jobless claims. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter