Peak of volatility in the markets. After an attempt to recover the main US indices, with the Nasdaq also turning positive, in the last few minutes there has been a new downward acceleration and all the main indices – S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq – all three score. -1.7% on the session lows. The volatility measured by the VIX index today marks + 24% at 28.4, thus returning close to the peaks touched on Friday.
Affecting sentiment are the worrying words of Moderna ceo, Stephane Bancel, who told the FT that he believes that existing vaccines are less effective against the new variant of Covid, while the World Health Organization has warned that the omicron variant it could fuel a new increase in infections with serious consequences. In addition, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said its treatment with COVID-19 antibodies and other similar drugs may be less effective against the Omicron variant.
Shares in the travel sector, banking and energy sectors suffer (the latter is affected by -4% of WTi oil in the area of $ 67).