Japanese officials estimated last week that omicron was four times more infectious than delta but given the insane amounts of covid being reported in London that might be an underestimation. The good news is that anecdotal reports of mild illness continue to be sustained. Everyone is praying that continues and if Continue Reading
German COVID-19 rules put off shoppers, says retailer group
The tighter restrictions Germany has introduced to try to limit the spread of COVID-19 are putting people off from shopping in the usually busy run-up to Christmas, the country’s association of retailers (HDE) said on Sunday. The HDE said sales in bricks-and-mortar non-food retail were down an average of 26% Continue Reading
U.S. set to unveil emergency oil release in bid to fight high prices
By Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner – The United States is expected to announce a loan of crude oil from its emergency stockpile on Tuesday as part of a plan it hashed out with major Asian energy consumers to lower energy prices, a Biden administration source familiar with the situation Continue Reading
UK to review COVID travel rules in January
LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) – Britain will review its COVID travel rules in January and is looking at reforming its airport slots system as part of a wider new aviation strategy, minister Robert Courts said on Monday. Britain has lagged other European countries in lifting pandemic travel restrictions with airlines Continue Reading
Euro zone bond yields edge lower on lockdown fears
By Stefano Rebaudo – Eurozone government bond yields edged lower on Monday following Friday’s sharp fall after new pandemic induced restrictions in Europe dulled investors’ appetite for risk. Tens of thousands of people, many of them far-right supporters, protested in Vienna on Saturday after Austria’s government announced a new lockdown. Continue Reading
El Salvador plans first ‘Bitcoin City’, backed by bitcoin bonds
– El Salvador plans to build the world’s first “Bitcoin City” which will be funded initially by bitcoin bonds, President Nayib Bukele said on Saturday, doubling down on the Central American country’s bet on the crypto currency. Speaking at an event to mark the close of a week to promote Continue Reading
El Salvador’s banks can coexist with Bitcoin, banking representatives say
It was revealed at a panel discussion on “The Impact of Bitcoin on Commercial Banks” held at LaBitConf 2021 on November 18 in El Salvador that banking executives in the region do not regard Bitcoin as a danger and feel that they can coexist. At the ninth edition of LaBitConf, Leandro Guini, CEO of Continue Reading
Austria to Enter Fourth Lockdown in Bid to Halt Record Covid Surge
(Bloomberg) — Austrians will enter its fourth nationwide lockdown on Monday as a record spike in Covid cases threatens to overwhelm the country’s health care system, according to media reports. The government reached the decision overnight during a meeting with provincial leaders, the Austrian Press Agency reported. Details will be Continue Reading
Crude Oil Falls Sharply, European Gas Pares Gains Amid Broader Selloff in Energy Markets, ANZ Bank Says
Crude oil saw a sharp drop at the close on Wednesday amid a broader selloff across energy markets, which are still wary of a possible release of strategic oil reserves in the US, Australia’s ANZ Bank said in a Thursday note. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping Continue Reading
Bitcoin Extends Correction, Why The Bulls Might Take Back Step
Bitcoin price started a downside correction below $66,000 against the US Dollar. BTC might extend its downside correction towards $62,000 in the near term. Bitcoin started a downside correction below the $66,000 and $65,000 levels. The price is now trading below $65,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There Continue Reading