S&P 500 closes lower in volatile session after new Covid strain causes U.K. to lock down; European stocks fall sharply amid jitters over new coronavirus strain; Stoxx 600 down 2.3%; BELEX15 down only light 0.1% 
The S&P 500 fell slightly in volatile trading on Monday to start the holiday week as enthusiasm over a coronavirus stimulus deal was overwhelmed by worries over a viral new Covid strain in the U.K. The broad equity index dipped 0.4%, or 14.49 points, to 3,694.92 after falling nearly 2% at its session low. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1%, or 13.12 points, to 12,742.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased a 400-point loss to eke out a small gain as strength in Nike and bank shares supported the blue-chip benchmark. The 30-stock Dow rose 0.1%, or 37.40 points, to 30,216.45. 
Nike popped nearly 5% to hit a record high on the back of strong earnings. Bank stocks jumped in unison with JPMorgan and Goldman up 3.8% and 6.1%, respectively, after the Federal Reserve announced it will allow the industry to resume share buybacks in the first quarter of 2021. 
Tesla dropped more than 6% as it entered the S&P 500 with a 1.69% weighting in the index, the fifth largest. The stock fell to its session following a report that Apple is moving forward with its plan to produce electric vehicles. 

European markets closed significantly lower on Monday as investors monitored a fast-spreading new variant of the coronavirus that has shut down much of the U.K. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 2.3% down, with banks falling 3.6% to lead losses. All sectors and major bourses slid into negative territory. 

BELEX15 was down only light 0.1% as NIS saw minor 0.5% loss, while 2.1% drop at Energoprojekt also contributed. The most active was Philip Morris, with RSD 1.6min volume (preferred shares). 
Source: CNBC, Ilirika