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Journal Entry 2 (December - Mid January)

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Journal Entry 2 (December - Mid January)

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The winter wave of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and the series of restrictions around the globe that followed that has had a negative impacted the stock market and my portfolio. Over the past month and a half my portfolio has lost value. This is mostly due to the resurgence of Covid-19 with the Omicron variant. Omicron is more transmissible than the Delta variant. Omicron is 3.2 times as likely to cause a household infection as the previous Delta variant (Zimmer and Jacobs). The wave of cases surrounding Omicron has led to some restrictions in the United States (Roberson, Smith, and Hayward). There has been restrictions placed on the unvaccinated in areas around the globe (Hinnant). Unease around Covid-19 and restriction has had small and negative impact on markets. The large increase in Covid-19 cases due to the omicron variant has undoubtably led to economic fallout and has affected the performance of my portfolio. Such high numbers of covid cases could further strain the global supply chain moving forward.

There is little doubt the economy will not rebound when the wave of Covid-19 cases from the holiday season and Omicron ends. The surge of cases from the holiday season will eventually subside and restrictions will be lifted. This may lead to a resumption in social activities by many around the world. A early prediction that is from a model that was created by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington puts the peak of this winter wave at Feb. 6, with 408,000 confirmed new daily infections (Achenbach).  It is plausible that the end of an Omicron wave will come with an increased return to social activities. As a result, in my portfolio, AMC will be added and United Airlines Holdings Inc. will be removed. This decision is due to predictions about the end of this winter wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Works Cited

Achenbach, Joel. The Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2021, www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/30/how-long-will-omicron-last/.

Hinnant, Lori. "Spread of Omicron Variant Leading to More COVID-19 Restrictions Worldwide." Global News, The Associated Press, 2 Dec. 2021, globalnews.ca/news/8421824/omicron-covid-19-restrictions-world/.

Robertson, Campbell, et al. "The U.S. Faces Another Covid Christmas As Omicron Fuels a Rise in Cases." The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos, 21 Dec. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/us/us-holidays-omicron-cases.html.

Zimmer, Carl, and Andrew Jacobs. "Omicron: What Is Known — and Still Unknown." The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos, 30 Nov. 2021, www.nytimes.com/article/omicron-coronavirus-variant.html.

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The decision by President Biden and other world leaders to tap into oil reserves in order to lower prices will have an overall positive impact on my portfolio. In a coordinated effort nations such as the United States and China are tapping into their oil reserves (Stevens). This will lower of oil prices which may lead to a reduction in inflation. The reduction in oil prices leads to the lowering of shipping costs. For companies like Amazon and Tesla, a reduction in shipping costs has and may lead to a decrease in the prices of goods on Amazon and the shipping costs of Tesla cars. This move by Biden and other nations could have and has had a widespread positive impact on the economy with a reduction in inflation. Positive economic news will continue to have beneficial repercussions for the stock market.

If the FDA authorizes the multiple different Covid-19 antiviral pills it is currently considering this will lead to an increase in the stocks of biopharmaceutical companies that are creating said pills. The introduction of antiviral pills will heavily affect medical sectors. Covid-19 is currently its most pressing challenge. If they are authorized and proven to be effective these biopharmaceutical companies have just produced a highly effective and extremely useful products. Pfizer had produced one of these antiviral pills titled Paxlovid. Paxlovid reduced hospitalizations and death by 89% (Johnson). Currently, an investment in Pfizer is in anticipation of the authorization of the anti viral and the rise of the stock price as a result.

Stevens, Pippa. "U.S. to Release Oil from Reserves in Coordination with Other Countries to Lower Gas Prices." CNBC, www.cnbc.com/2021/11/23/biden-says-us-will-tap-strategic-petroleum-reserve-as-gas-prices-hover-around-7-hear-high.html.

Johnson, Carolyn Y. "Treatments will change the pandemic, but they can’t end it alone." The Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2021, www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/21/pandemic-antiviral-pills/.