US data were mixed with consumer confidence beating forecasts while home sales missed.

Israel led the world in offering its citizens a 4th jab specifically against the Omicron variant. Please note that all Israelis can get it, including Muslims and Christians. 

Next door in Jordan, the local royal divorcee, Princess Haya bint Hussein, who collected the largest ever UK divorce settlement from her former husband, will be able to afford to inoculate here whole household to say nothing of her secret lover. Payments come from her ex, Prince Al Maktoum of Dubai.

US growth figures for Q3 were up from forecasts of 2.1% at 2.3% but well down from the prior quarter level of 6.7%.

A bit of good news on Omigosh Omicron. The evidence seems to point to lower levels of hospitalization 

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Oilpatch

*A shortfall in gas in Europe led to a switch of US tankers from Asia to Europe leading to new congestion on the Suez Canal. Our LNG surplus will gain from the 23% jump in European prices per megawatt-hour to euros 182.  

*Higher prices boosted Shell and Total stocks.RDS was related bull by Investors Intelligence today, up from equal weight.

*The sector was a clear gainer again while others suffered reversals.

*Albemarle gained despite its Chile lithium business and a downgrade in its eps forecast to .984 dollars from .989. ALB.

*Esterline, ESTE, is another winner.

Pharma

*The US Army research center at Walter Reade Hospital is working on a vaccine to protect against all corona variants. The government will provide free test kits at military bases for civilian inoculation but not until Jan. 

*Pfizer got FDA approval for its covid pill from the FDA today. It has far to rise. PFE.

*Dr. Reddy's rose 0.6% today. RDY.

*Astra Zeneca has an omicron-specific covid jab coming from the Oxford U labs. AZN.

*Novavax now is rated overweight thanks to its opening booster trials 6 months after its Covid ones. The WHO says the booster will probably require two jabs. NVAX.

*GSK of Britain has a monoclonal antibody in trials against the omicron variant. It also was boosted by news that its ViiV (no relation to me) partner's new HIV pill which only needs to be taken 6 times a year, works as well as a daily pill. Cabotegravir is being sold as "Apretude". 

*Swiss Novartis bought out Gyroscope, a private company, for $1.5 bn. The acquired firm develops ocular genetics tech. NVS.

*Ambiguity continues. The Japanese Health Ministry reported that the Biogen-Eisai Alzheimer's trials were inconclusive. Eisai, ESALY, was the Japanese partner. It is just possible that Biogen Idec is too cheap now.

*Compugen of Israel is up 3.16%. CGEN.

*The top drug stock is French Genfit up 8.5%. Aucune explication. GNFT.

Tech

*Semiconductors are fully loaded with both Taiwan Semi and Tower Semi up well over 2%. They are TSM and TSEM.

*The IBM spin-off Kyndrill KD rose 3.5%. 

Funds

*Our SEC says Chinese companies must up their disclosure levels when they use VIE accounts to collect US investment.

*Investor (IVSBF) is up 4.3%. 

*However Ireland Fund lost 19% although it doesn't go ex-div until next Weds. Maybe someone found a 4-leaf clover. IRL.