U.S. stock indices turned sharply around during the December 1 trading session amid the discovery of the omicron strain in California. The state Department of Health officially confirmed the first case of omicron variant of coronavirus on the territory of the USA, reports Market Watch.
The Dow Jones index plummeted from a one and a half percent plus to minus 1.34 percent. The day’s range of change in the index was nearly 1,000 points. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq lost 1.18% and 1.83%, respectively.
Even antivirus stocks were under pressure. Moderna (MRNA) papers lost almost 12%. Novavax (NVAX) shares fell by about 7%. Nevertheless, vaccine giants with wide product lines remained in the green zone: Pfizer (PFE) +1.7%, Johnson&Johnson (JNJ) + 1.37%.
The shares of the world’s most expensive company managed to hit a new historic high in the first half of the trading session. Apple (AAPL) topped $170 per share before the market began a broad slide downward.
Crude oil prices, which without Californian news were experiencing weakness, continued its trend initiated on November 26. U.S. benchmark WTI closed at $65.47, losing more than one percent. North Sea Brent settled well below $70/bbl. The results of trades on it became $68.76 per barrel, with not the most tangible losses of 0.68%.
Omicron was found in the U.S. Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq sharply “over-shoeed” into minus
