US equity markets lost ground as COVID-19 concerns lingered - Dow lost -201-points or -0.67% . The broader S&P500 slipped -0.21%, with Energy (down -1.74%) leading the declines. Information Technology (up +0.86%) and Real Estate (+0.61%). Travel-related stocks came under pressure once again amid lingering concerns about a new variant of COVID-19 in the U.K. American Airlines dropped -3.9% and United Airlines fell -2.5%. Carnival -6%, while Royal Caribbean dipped nearly 3%. Norwegian Cruise Line slid 6.9% Nasdaq added +0.50% to log a fresh record closing high (12,807.92). Apple Inc rallied +2.85% as investors continued to support the company’s reported foray into self-driving vehicles. The small-capitalisation Russell 2000 index also logged record closing high, gaining +0.99% (to 1,989.88).
