Pfizer Inc

The World Health Organization on Wednesday said the new Covid variant could change the course of the pandemic.

South Africa’s test positivity rate also hit 22.4% at the beginning of the last week, a sharp increase from 1.2% reported during the first week of November.

Omicron’s global spread and large number of mutations suggest it could have a major impact on the Covid pandemic’s course, the WHO director-general says.

“I think we could go to a period where we have an economic boom not unlike post-World War I” and after the 1918 pandemic, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Wednesday.

“When we see real-world data, will determine if the omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC.

Jim’s thoughts on Pfizer’s vaccine news, Nikkei’s report on Apple struggling to meet demand, and more.

U.S. stock futures reversed higher and pointed to more gains after Pfizer said three doses of its Covid vaccine neutralized the omicron variant.

These are the stocks posting the largest moves before the bell.

A third shot shows virus-fighting abilities comparable with the protection provided by two doses against the original strain of the virus.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC the omicron variant “extends the timeline” on when Covid will go from pandemic to endemic.

U.S. Treasury yields rose on Wednesday following a two-day market rally.

Day by day, more information has emerged regarding the spread of the variant, as well as anecdotal evidence and preliminary data about its risk profile.

European stocks closed lower on Wednesday, with investors continuing to digest the latest news around the omicron Covid variant.

U.S. stocks edged higher Wednesday as investors continued to bet the impact of omicron would not be as threatening as previously thought.

The Covid omicron variant significantly reduces antibodies generated by Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine, according to a small preliminary study released Tuesday.

“I don’t think it’s good news to have something that spreads fast,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told The Wall Street Journal.

Jim’s thoughts on Intel, MongoDB and the so-called bozo sellers’ disappearance.

The WHO issued a strong recommendation against administering convalescent plasma to treat Covid patients, citing research that shows no improvement in patients.

There’s reason to believe that current vaccines are going to be “quite effective” in combating the effects of the omicron strain, says Andy Slavitt.

“Mad Money” host Jim Cramer rings the lightning round bell, which means he’s giving his answers to callers’ stock questions at rapid speed.