Bloomberg Gold edged higher as investors assessed the resilience of the global economic recovery, with Covid-19 cases hitting a pandemic record. Bullion is heading for its first annual loss in three years as central banks start to dial back pandemic-era stimulus to contain inflation. The S&P 500 notched its 69th record close of 2021, suggesting investors remain relatively sanguine about …

  Bloomberg Oil rises as investors weighed the rapid spread of Omicron against signs it may be milder than previous variants. Brent futures rise 0.7%, swinging between gains and losses amid thin trading volumes. West Texas Intermediate, which didn’t have a settlement due to a US holiday, falls from Thursday’s level. Daily omicron infections in the US has surpassed those …

  Bloomberg Ten of this year’s most destructive weather events cost a combined $170 billion in damages, according to a new study. Hurricane Ida, a tropical storm that pummeled much of the eastern US with lashing rain in August, killed at least 95 people and cost the economy $65 billion. A month earlier, floods in Europe caused 240 deaths and …

  Bloomberg A surge in renewable energy in India is set to massively increase spot power trading, according to the country’s largest electricity bourse. Buyers will increasingly turn away from traditional long-term contracts in favour of cheaper renewable energy, said Rohit Bajaj, head of business development at Indian Energy Exchange Ltd. More than a quarter of the nation’s electricity could …

  Bloomberg UK households are set for an 18-billion-pound ($24 billion) increase in energy bills next year, potentially squeezing consumer spending and adding pressure on the Bank of England to increase interest rates, according to Investec Plc. A surge in gas prices has left the energy price cap — the ceiling for what firms can charge most customers — on …

Bloomberg European natural gas falls for a fourth day as US supplies are expected to bring relief to the tight market and traders weighed both milder weather and risks to demand from the Omicron virus variant. Gas has whipsawed in recent days, soaring to record levels above 180 euros ($203.59) a megawatt-hour last Tuesday following a sharp drop in Russian …

  Bloomberg US aviation regulators expanded their warning about 5G service set to launch January 5 on new frequencies, saying potential interference could have a broad impact on aircraft safety systems. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Safety Alert for Operators warning that “a wide range” of aircraft safety devices could malfunction and laid out the process it will follow …

  Bloomberg US holiday sales jumped 8.5% from last year as consumers spent more money on clothes, jewelry and electronics, a report from Mastercard SpendingPulse showed. Sales grew across the board, both in stores and online, for the holiday season defined as November 1 to December 24. Consumers started searching for gifts earlier than usual with supply chains roiling retailers …

  Bloomberg Japan’s retail sales increased for a third straight month, as easing virus concerns fueled spending by consumers before the emergence of the Omicron variant. Sales advanced 1.2% in November from the previous month, as shoppers spent more on clothing and motor vehicles, the industry ministry reported Monday. Economists had expected a 1.3% overall gain. While Japan’s consumption hasn’t …

  Bloomberg The C-suite is a bundle of nerves this winter. A new survey shows that 72% of chief executive officers are worried about losing their jobs in 2022 because of business disruptions, tracking closely with the 94% of bosses who say their corporate models need to be overhauled within three years. “That’s eye-poppingly high,” says Simon Freakley, the CEO …