1) U.S. jobless claims remain at lower level, December jobs to double
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefit for the week ended January 1, 2022, rose slightly by 7,000 to 207,000, but remained at historically low levels in an indication of a recovery in the job market.
Meanwhile, economists expect the December job report to double to 422,000, compared to 210,000 in November.
2) Bitcoin dropped below $43,000 as world’s second-largest miner went offline
Bitcoin plunged below $43,000 for the first time since September last year as Kazakhstan, the world’s second-largest bitcoin mining, cut off internet access amid protests over rising fuel prices. In the latest report, internet access had been restored.
3) Moderna CEO says people might need 4th Covid shot
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said that people may need a fourth shot of Covid-19 vaccine as the efficacy of the booster shot (3rd) will likely decline over the course of several months, which is similar to what happens to the second shot. Still, she added that people who received the third shot last fall will likely be able to have protection to get through winter.
4) Oil prices rose amid supply shortage concerns
Oil prices continued to rise on Friday as West Texas Intermediate surged above $80 level amid concerns on escalating unrest in OPEC+ oil producer Kazakhstan and supply outages in Libya. In the morning session of Asian market, WTI rose 0.74% to $80.05 per barrel and Brent crude increased 0.74% to $82.60 a barrel.
