Gained 6.9% after diagnostic healthcare products maker Quidel said it would buy the in vitro diagnostics company in a $6 billion cash and stock deal.

Shares fell 0.6%.ДЇell 3.3% after the biotech company said an early study data of its COVID-19 vaccine booster showed immune responses against the omicron variant. Inc.вЂ™sДЄntiviral drug for high-risk adults over the age of 18. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday granted emergency use authorization to Merck & Co.

But for now, stocks globally are enjoying another positive day, led by strong gains in Asia and a solid open in Europe, he said. With central banks such as the Fed slowly turning off the stimulus taps and President BidenвЂ™s $1.75 trillion spending bill hanging in the balance, it probably wonвЂ™t take much to spark another panic in the markets, Boyadjian added. New York CityвЂ™s Times Square New YearвЂ™s Eve celebration plans were scaled back Thursday by mayor Bill de Blasio, as the city grapples with surging COVID-19 infections that nationally have led to canceled holiday parties, concerts and sporting events. вЂњThe caveat here is that even if omicron is less dangerous, the fact that it is so much more transmissible means that health services are still at risk of being overwhelmed by the surge in new infections,вЂќ said Raffi Boyadjian, lead investment analyst at XM, in a note to clients. studies released Wednesday also showed the omicron variant may be milder than the delta one, while South African medical experts have suggested the surge in cases may have peaked, with fewer hospitalizations and severe illness. Said Thursday that its COVID-19 booster shot was effective against the highly contagious variant, in a laboratory study.ДЄ pair of U.K. вЂњIt also demonstrates that despite rising prices for goods and assets, households are still making large purchases.вЂќДЄdding to the positive newsflow, AstraZeneca economists at Mizuho wrote, in a client note. вЂњAfter a work-from-home rise and fall, home sales seem to have stabilized toward a moderate growth trajectory,вЂќ U.S. new home sales jumped 12.4% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 744,000 in November from a revised 662,000 in the prior month, the government reported Thursday, but came in below expectations for an annual rate of 766,000. The University of MichiganвЂ™s gauge of consumer sentiment rose slightly to a final December reading of 70.6 from the initial figure of 70.4. economic research team, wrote in a note following the consumer data. вЂњThe data added to evidence that holiday spending was likely pulled forward into October,вЂќ Pooja Sriram, from BarclayвЂ™s U.S. Durable goods orders rose 2.5% for the month. 18, while consumer spending and personal spending nudged higher, the 12-month PCE inflation indicator rose 5.7% in November.

data Thursday.ДЇirst-time jobless claims were unchanged at 205,000 in the week ended Dec. Investors were digesting a fresh batch of U.S. Read: Is the stock market open on Christmas Eve? New YearвЂ™s Eve? Here are the coming holiday trading hours. 3, 2022, in observation of the New YearвЂ™s holiday, though other global markets will. The next week will see business as usual, albeit in likely continued thin trading. вЂњBut it is economic optimism on light volume,вЂќ he said. вЂњToday, it is about economic optimism that this variant is not going to be as bad as delta and original virus,вЂќ said Kent Engelke, chief economic strategist at Capitol Securities Management, in a phone interview.Д®ngelke also said sentiment on Wall Street improved following reassurances this week from the White House that no 2020-style lockdowns were on the table as part of its plan to fight the coronavirusвЂ™ omicron variant. Stocks have climbed for two of the past three weeks, but on lower trading volumes this week ahead of the long holiday weekend, with Wall Street closed on Friday, Christmas Eve. For the week ending Thursday, the Dow rose 1.7%, the S&P 500 gained 2.3%, and the Nasdaq advanced 3.2%. On Wednesday, major indexes scored gains.

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