New COVID-19 restrictions in the UK will see most of the region return to more stringent measures than they were before the national lockdown
Lindsay Barnaby / AFP / Getty Images
European stocks were mixed early Friday as investors digested the extension of COVID-19 restrictions across the continent and concerns about AstraZeneca vaccine candidate.
Stoxx 600 SXXP for all of Europe,
It is down 0.1% in early trade, while the German DAX index is down,
It was flat and the CAC PX1 was French,
It was up 0.2% on what appeared to be a quiet end of the week.
US equity futures rose ahead of a brief trading session on Wall Street, with the Dow futures YM00,
It was up 0.2%, or 49 points, in the Nasdaq NQ00 futures,
0.3% increase and S&P 500 ES00 futures,
0.1% higher. New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Will close at 1 PM ET, After it was closed on Thursdays for the Thanksgiving holiday.
FTSE 100 UKX Index,
The index fell by 0.8% after the UK government announced this Most regions will revert to stricter restrictions Once the national lockdown is lifted next week. The majority of the country will be subject to more stringent measures than before It entered closure On November 5th.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday Partial country closure It will be extended until December 20, while France will remain closed until December 15, raising concerns about the economic impact in the coming months ahead of a possible vaccine.
“The caution this weekend appears to be based on concerns about the short-term economic outlook, as the extension of tight restrictions on economic activity in France, Germany and the United Kingdom creates more uncertainty about the potential for permanent economic scars as we approach 2021, he said. Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets.
AstraZeneca AZN,
Stocks tumbled 0.9% early Friday as questions raised about recent efficacy data for an experimental vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford. The British pharma said earlier this week that The vaccine was 90% effective. When volunteers were given half a dose of the vaccine followed by a full dose a month later, but 62% were effective when given two full doses.
After the company Admit a mistake Led to the different amounts awarded to volunteers, CEO Pascal Soriot said additional study was needed, in an interview with Bloomberg.
In more positive news, the vaccine has been referred to the UK regulatory body for approval, which Syriot said was unlikely to be delayed due to any additional international study.
Focus on stocks
Stakes of the Banco de Sabadell SAB,
It fell 13% after the Spanish bank said Merger talks with the biggest competitor BBVA BBVA,
is over. Instead, Sabadell said it will launch a new strategy that prioritizes its Spanish domestic business.
British pub chain JD Wetherspoon JDW,
It decreased by 2% as the company confirmed that 366 of its bars will close under the new procedures in the UK, while 435 others will be open but can only serve alcohol with the meal.
