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Statistics: Around 13% of New Zealand adults smoke (out of a population of 5M), down from 18% almost a decade ago. However, the current smoking rate among the indigenous Maori population stands at 31%, way higher than the national average. The sweeping crackdown on smoking could also lead to a black market for tobacco, and a statement from the health ministry acknowledges the risk, noting "customs will need more resources to enforce border control". (272 comments) 
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Healthcare
Three shots against Omicron is equivalent to two shots against the original coronavirus strain, Pfizer (PFE, BNTX) announced after completing its first study on the new variant. That would mean high antibody levels and efficacy of 95%, though the data collected in the study was based on a pseudo-virus, or a strain constructed in Pfizer's lab to replicate Omicron. Pfizer is looking to produce the same results with the real virus (results will be published in a week or two), but the ultimate proof will come from real-world data at the end of the month.
Snapshot: Once a more accurate picture is assembled, Pfizer will determine if a separate Omicron-specific vaccine is needed. The company is already at work with a jab targeting the variant and said it could be ready by the end of March. CEO Albert Bourla also related that treatments such as Pfizer's oral antiviral pill, Paxlovid, will help prevent hospitalizations and control COVID-19 during the winter.
As more and more shots are needed, some are even starting to talk about a fourth vaccine dose. Bourla noted that a jab could come "faster" than expected after previously projecting that a fourth shot would be needed 12 months after the third. He also anticipates new variants to emerge in the future and the company will continue monitoring to see if vaccine adjustments are needed.
Go deeper: Israel is already among the first in the world to consider authorizing a fourth COVID booster dose for immunocompromised patients and other at-risk populations. "There are some vaccines that are very efficient, like the ones against childhood diseases. There are also vaccines that need to be administered every year, like the one against the flu," said Prof. Cyrille Cohen, head of the immunology lab at Bar-Ilan University. "I think that eventually, a mix between vaccines and natural exposure will help us make the coronavirus less threatening. At the moment, vaccines are the best way to fight the pandemic, and we have to be grateful for that." (98 comments)
Snapshot: Once a more accurate picture is assembled, Pfizer will determine if a separate Omicron-specific vaccine is needed. The company is already at work with a jab targeting the variant and said it could be ready by the end of March. CEO Albert Bourla also related that treatments such as Pfizer's oral antiviral pill, Paxlovid, will help prevent hospitalizations and control COVID-19 during the winter.
As more and more shots are needed, some are even starting to talk about a fourth vaccine dose. Bourla noted that a jab could come "faster" than expected after previously projecting that a fourth shot would be needed 12 months after the third. He also anticipates new variants to emerge in the future and the company will continue monitoring to see if vaccine adjustments are needed.
Go deeper: Israel is already among the first in the world to consider authorizing a fourth COVID booster dose for immunocompromised patients and other at-risk populations. "There are some vaccines that are very efficient, like the ones against childhood diseases. There are also vaccines that need to be administered every year, like the one against the flu," said Prof. Cyrille Cohen, head of the immunology lab at Bar-Ilan University. "I think that eventually, a mix between vaccines and natural exposure will help us make the coronavirus less threatening. At the moment, vaccines are the best way to fight the pandemic, and we have to be grateful for that." (98 comments)
Consumer
A Starbucks (SBUX) store in Buffalo became the first location in the country to unionize after employees voted by a margin of 19 to 8 to join the Workers United Union. Two other stores in the region also voted on Thursday, but one said no, while results at the third location weren't conclusive. Never in the coffee chain's 50-year history has it relied on union workers to serve up its lattes among its 9,000 corporate-run stores across the U.S.
What it means: Analysts are sizing up what kind of tipping point could be in store as this is the first-ever labor foothold to hit Starbucks. Three more locations in Buffalo are also heading towards union elections, as well as another store in Mesa, Arizona that just filed for a vote. The fact that there was also a win in the restaurant industry - where there are almost no unions - could heat up labor movements and advocacy across the country.
The union drive has preoccupied Starbucks executives for months and the company even unveiled a wage increase in October that would raise the average barista's salary to nearly $17 an hour (from $14) by next summer. "This win is the first step in changing what it means to be a partner at Starbucks, and what it means to work in the service industry more broadly," said Michelle Eisen, a barista who works at the now-unionized Elmwood location in Buffalo. "With a union, we now have the ability to negotiate a contract that holds Starbucks accountable to be the company we know it can be, and gives us a real voice in our workplace."
Outlook: Brett Levy of MKM Partners noted that unionizing move won't have an immediate impact on Starbucks' strategy or financial results, but if the trends were to spread, the firm would be better positioned to absorb higher costs than its industry peers. In recent months, employees have gone on strike at Deere (DE), Mondelez (MDLZ) and Kellogg (K), as workers find themselves with increased leverage due to a massive labor crunch. President Biden has also promised to be the "most pro-union president in American history," declaring that "unions built the middle class," while there have also been union votes in at Amazon (AMZN), the second-largest private employer in America.
What it means: Analysts are sizing up what kind of tipping point could be in store as this is the first-ever labor foothold to hit Starbucks. Three more locations in Buffalo are also heading towards union elections, as well as another store in Mesa, Arizona that just filed for a vote. The fact that there was also a win in the restaurant industry - where there are almost no unions - could heat up labor movements and advocacy across the country.
The union drive has preoccupied Starbucks executives for months and the company even unveiled a wage increase in October that would raise the average barista's salary to nearly $17 an hour (from $14) by next summer. "This win is the first step in changing what it means to be a partner at Starbucks, and what it means to work in the service industry more broadly," said Michelle Eisen, a barista who works at the now-unionized Elmwood location in Buffalo. "With a union, we now have the ability to negotiate a contract that holds Starbucks accountable to be the company we know it can be, and gives us a real voice in our workplace."
Outlook: Brett Levy of MKM Partners noted that unionizing move won't have an immediate impact on Starbucks' strategy or financial results, but if the trends were to spread, the firm would be better positioned to absorb higher costs than its industry peers. In recent months, employees have gone on strike at Deere (DE), Mondelez (MDLZ) and Kellogg (K), as workers find themselves with increased leverage due to a massive labor crunch. President Biden has also promised to be the "most pro-union president in American history," declaring that "unions built the middle class," while there have also been union votes in at Amazon (AMZN), the second-largest private employer in America.
U.S. Indices
Dow +4.% to 35,971. S&P 500 +3.8% to 4,712. Nasdaq +3.6% to 15,631. Russell 2000 +2.3% to 2,210. CBOE Volatility Index -39.1% to 18.69.
S&P 500 Sectors
Consumer Staples +3.5%. Utilities +2.6%. Financials +2.6%. Telecom +2.9%. Healthcare +3.2%. Industrials +3.1%. Information Technology +6.%. Materials +3.5%. Energy +3.7%. Consumer Discretionary +2.5%.
World Indices
London +2.4% to 7,292. France +3.3% to 6,992. Germany +3.% to 15,623. Japan +1.5% to 28,438. China +1.6% to 3,666. Hong Kong +1.% to 23,996. India +1.9% to 58,787.
Commodities and Bonds
Crude Oil WTI +8.6% to $71.95/bbl. Gold 0.% to $1,783.2/oz. Natural Gas -5.9% to 3.889. Ten-Year Treasury Yield -1.2% to 130.41.
Forex and Cryptos
EUR/USD -0.01%. USD/JPY +0.52%. GBP/USD +0.31%. Bitcoin -1.8%. Litecoin -6.9%. Ethereum -2.3%. Ripple -2.6%.
Top Stock Gainers
Insignia Systems (NASDAQ:ISIG) +319%. Ensysce Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:ENSC) +254%. American Virtual Cloud Tech Inc (NASDAQ:AVCT) +141%. Sigmatron Intl Inc (NASDAQ:SGMA) +104%. Vasta Platform Ltd Cl A (NASDAQ:VSTA) +87%.
Top Stock Losers
Reata Pharma (NASDAQ:RETA) -66%. Bolt Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:BOLT) -56%. Radius Health (NASDAQ:RDUS) -53%. Renren Inc ADR (NYSE:RENN) -51%. Mobiquity Technologies Inc (OTCQB:MOBQ) -46%.
Where will the markets be headed next week? Current trends and ideas? Add your thoughts to the comments section.
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