S&P 500 retreats from record to start the week, Dow sheds 200 points; Europe stocks close lower as monetary policy decisions take center stage
The S&P 500 pulled back Monday as investors remained cautious about how the omicron variant will impact the economy and what the Federal Reserve will announce Wednesday.
The S&P 500 fell 0.5% and sits about 1.2% from its intraday record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded about 200 points lower, dragged down by a 3.5% drop in Boeing’s stock. The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite was down 0.8%.
Reopening plays like airlines and cruise lines were some of the biggest losers on Monday. American Airlines fell 4.9%, and Delta Air Lines dropped 3.3%. Carnival Corp. ticked 5.1% lower.
On the positive side, Moderna shares rose 5.9% a day after the White House’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci called Covid booster shots “optimal care,” but said the definition of fully vaccinated would not change.
Israeli researchers at the Sheba Medical Center and the Health Ministry’s Central Virology Laboratory concluded on Saturday that the three-shot course of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine was effective against the new omicron variant. Pfizer shares rose 4%.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed lower by 0.4%, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory.
When it comes to individual stock action, Credit Suisse announced an overhaul of its executive board early Monday. Shares were down 1.7%.
Meanwhile, Vifor shares jumped 18% after confirming that it was in merger talks with Australia’s CSL.
Source: CNBC, Investing.com