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US stocks sink on Omicron surge, setback to Biden’s economic plan

The S&P 500 had its biggest three-day drop since September, led by losses in financial and material shares.

Traders on Wall Street said lower volume ahead of the holidays exacerbated market moves [Andrew Kelly/Reuters]
Published On 20 Dec 2021

Investor sentiment sagged as concern about President Joe Biden’s economic agenda and the omicron coronavirus surge dragged down stocks. Traders said lower volume ahead of the holidays exacerbated market moves.

The S&P 500 had its biggest three-day drop since September, led by losses in financial and material shares. Bonds fell. The dollar was little changed.

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“There’s kind of two dynamics going on. Probably the most important one is the imminent reduction in liquidity,” said Jay Hatfield, chief executive officer at Infrastructure Capital Management. “On top of that, you have the omicron concern.”

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists cut their U.S. growth forecasts after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin blindsided the White House by rejecting Biden’s roughly $2 trillion tax-and-spending package. Meanwhile, Europe’s biggest nations weighed more Covid-19 restrictions.

What to watch this week:

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

Currencies

Bonds

Commodities