European markets are expected to fall sharply after the discovery of a new variant of Covid. The Eurostoxx 50 4,293.24 points (+0.40%), the CAC 40 at 7,075.87 points (+0.48%), the DAX 40 at 15,917.98 points (+0.25%), the FTSE 100 at 7,310.37 points (+0.33%), the SMI at 12,449.68 points (+0.44%), the AEX 807.55 points (+0.57%), the BEL 20 at 4,237, 54 points (+0.77%), the IBEX 35 at 8,840.90 points (+0.56%), the DJIA at 35,804.38 points (-0.03%), the Nasdaq at 15,845.23 points ( +0.44%), the S&P 500 at 4,701.46 points (+0.23%) and the Nikkei 225 at 28,751.62 points (-2.53%).

Regarding exchange rates, the change from the close in New York indicates that EUR/USD opens at 1.1226 (+0.14%), EUR/JPY at 128.74 (-0.45%) and USD/JPY at 114.69 (-0.59%).

European equity markets are expected to open sharply lower on Friday, in the wake of Asian stock markets, after the announcement of the discovery in South Africa of a new variant, possibly very contagious, of the virus responsible for Covid-19 . At 7:35 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract dropped 128 points, or 1.8%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The contract on the DAX 40 fell by 300 points, or 1.9%, and that on the FTSE 100 lost 147 points, or 2%.

South African scientists have discovered a variant, dubbed B.1.1.529, which has many mutations, is said to be highly contagious and resistant to existing vaccines. Cases have been detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, in a person returning from South Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a meeting of experts on Friday to decide whether this variant should be classified as "concerning".

On Wall Street, where markets were closed Thursday and will close early Friday due to Thanksgiving celebrations, the Dow Jones Index (DJIA) futures contract was down 1.3% and the broader index S&P 500 fell 1%.

Yields on US Treasury bonds fell on Friday morning from their Wednesday levels, also affected by the discovery of a new, potentially dangerous variant of Covid-19 in South Africa. The yield on the ten-year Treasury bill, the market benchmark, fell to 1.548%, against 1.641% on Wednesday evening. Bond markets were closed Thursday in the United States for Thanksgiving.

The downward movement of the markets linked to the new variant of Covid-19 discovered in South Africa on Friday favors currencies considered to be safe havens, such as the yen or the Swiss franc, indicates Jeffrey Halley, of Oanda. At 7:35 a.m., the euro thus fell by 0.6%, to 128.50 yen, and the dollar lost 0.7% against the yen, to 114.52 yen. Against the Swiss franc, the single currency dropped 0.4% to 1.0448 francs, and the greenback lost 0.5% to 0.9310 Swiss francs.

Oil futures are down sharply on Friday morning, as the discovery in South Africa of a new variant of the virus responsible for Covid-19, the resurgence of the disease in Europe and the health restrictions resulting from it. ensue could restrict the demand for black gold. By 7:30 a.m., the January North Sea Brent contract was down $2.11, or 2.6%, at $80.10 a barrel. The similarly-dated Nymex-listed light sweet crude (WTI) contract was down $2.54, or 3.2%, at $75.85 a barrel.