Oil prices head for weekly loss on Omicron coronavirus uncertainty
Oil prices dipped on Friday, putting the market on track for a narrow weekly loss, as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant raised fears new curbs may hit fuel demand, while a weaker dollar supported commodity markets broadly.
Wall Street firms retreat from office, holiday parties as virus spreads
Wall Street banks and investment firms are retrenching from their push to get staff back to the office, with Citigroup Inc (C.N), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O), Blackstone (BX.N) and MetLife (MET.N) among the latest to adjust plans as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.
COVID curbs freeze Germany’s private sector growth in December – PMI
Growth in German private sector activity evaporated in December as restrictions to break an aggressive fourth wave of coronavirus infections hit the services sector in Europe’s largest economy, a survey showed on Thursday.
U.S. airlines to defend $54 billion COVID-19 government lifeline
Major U.S. airlines Wednesday will defend a $54 billion COVID-19 government lifeline even as they face operational challenges and work to speed hiring to address rising demand.
Dubai leads major Gulf bourses higher as Omicron fears ease
Most stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Tuesday, on receding worries about the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant, with the Dubai index outperforming the region.
CBI cuts UK economic growth forecasts on supply chain hit
Britain’s economy looks set to grow more slowly than previously thought this year and in 2023 due to global supply chain problems and the government must encourage longer-term business investment, an employers group said on Monday.
Oil rebounds above $71 on Omicron hopes, Iran talks
Oil rose by more than $1 a barrel to above $71 on Monday as hopes that the Omicron coronavirus variant may cause mostly mild symptoms boosted riskier assets and as the prospect of an imminent rise in Iranian oil exports looked less likely.
Bitcoin below $50,000, at early October levels, after weekend’s battering
Bitcoin hovered around $49,000 on Monday, down 1.5% on the day, as traders nursed losses after a brutal weekend in which the price of the world’s largest digital asset at one point lost over one fifth of its value.
Google delays mandatory return to office beyond Jan. 10
Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google said on Thursday it is indefinitely pushing back its January return-to-office plan globally amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and some resistance to company-mandated vaccinations.
Omicron marches on as Biden prepares U.S. for grim winter
Australia, despite restrictions on international visitors, became the latest country on Friday to report community transmission of Omicron, a day after the coronavirus variant was found locally in five U.S. states.
