Stocks Rise on Encouraging Virus Studies—and What Else Is Happening in the Stock Market Today

Stocks traded higher Thursday, as studies on the Omicron coronavirus variant revealed infected people were at less risk of being hospitalized. Stronger U.S. economic data also buoyed markets ahead of the Christmas holiday, and set major stock indexes on track to erase Monday’s steep drop and close the holiday-shortened week in the green.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 222 points, or 0.6%, in midday trading Thursday. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 4,729, above the index’s all-time closing high of 4,712, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9%.

The latest Omicron headlines were net positive. A study from the University of Edinburgh and another from the Imperial College London found that while the Omicron variant was more infectious, it was less severe. Also, researchers at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases found people were 70% to 80% less likely to be hospitalized if infected with Omicron.

“Imperial College London found that while the Omicron variant was more infectious, it was less severe.”

Imperial College (Neil Ferguson) have a history of tending toward the worst case end of the forecasts. If they are also saying less its less severe, that is particularly promising.

“The latest Omicron headlines were net positive. A study from the University of Edinburgh and another from the Imperial College London found that while the Omicron variant was more infectious, it was less severe. Also, researchers at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases found people were 70% to 80% less likely to be hospitalized if infected with Omicron.”

Sounds like being infected with Omicron might be more effective and definitely cheaper than the 2 new Oral Covid therapies.

Beware of these early omicron symptoms:

Symptoms appear differently for different people, but the most commonly reported symptoms include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

“All which we on this forum KNEW last Friday before the idiots on Wall Street had their freakin panic attack.”

Yeah, I made some stock purchases based on that.

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