The Dow falls early on Friday as the focus on measures to block COVID heats up

• Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA,
  -0.50%
  decreased by about 190 points to 30,985, a decline of 0.6%.

• S&P 500 SPX Index,
  -0.25%
  traded 17 points lower, or 0.5%, to reach 3,836

• Nasdaq Composite Composite Index,
  -0.04%
  fell 60 points to about 13,473, a slip of 0.4%.

On Thursday, the Dow fell 12.37 points, or less than 0.1%, to 31,176.01, the S&P 500 gained 1.22 points, or less than 0.1%, to 3,853.07, narrowly hitting a record-breaking close, as did the Nasdaq Composite, which rose 73.67 points, or 0.6%, to 13,530.91.

What drives the market?

Investors find several reasons to continue buying shares on Friday, following a preparation for registrations this week, as new cases and blockages accelerate in some European countries and in Asia, undermining stock support.

The overall number of confirmed cases of coronavirus causing COVID-19 rose to more than 97.5 million on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, while the death toll rose to more than 2.09 million.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the country’s current blockades could last until the summer, raising further questions about the economic impact of the outbreak in Europe and the US

In addition, COVID-19 cases are reported again in China for the first time in months, with 103 new infections, marking the 11th day with more than 100 confirmed cases, while Hong Kong saw the first blockade, even before the Lunar New Year Holidays, a popular holiday in Asia.

Adding to investor concerns, the data show that the rapid index of eurozone purchasing managers fell in January to a two-month low of 47.5, approaching 47.6 – from 49.1 in December. The European Central Bank warned on Thursday that the eurozone could be heading for a double-dip recession if the blockages last much longer.

In the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, returned to the White House meeting on Thursday and said new data showed that currently available vaccines on the market may be less effective in fighting coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Investors focused on the new Biden administration’s approach to the dual economic and public health crisis, as well as the impact of the coronavirus on US corporations.

Analysts also doubt that a $ 1.9 billion aid package proposed by Biden will remain intact in the Senate as the new president tries to reach a consensus in Congress on additional tax spending.

At the corporate level, investors were watching the quarterly corporate results, with a focus on Intel Corp., whose shares rose to close higher in the last trading minutes on Thursday, when the chip maker unexpectedly released its quarterly results before the end. trading session, INTC stock,
-6.56%
withdrew into extended trading as the company approached long-term plans.

Meanwhile, International Business Machines Corp. IBM on Thursday afternoon reported a decline in adjusted net income for at least the seventh year in a row and a drop in sales for the eighth year in the last nine years, according to FactSet data.

Looking to the future, investors are looking at a composite survey of U.S. purchasing managers, to be published by IHS Markit at 9:45 a.m. Eastern and a report on existing home sales for December at 10 p.m.

Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was also expected to be confirmed by the Senate as secretary of the treasury, the first woman to hold the position.

What stocks are concentrated?

• Walt Disney Co.. DIS,
  + 1.27%
  was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS, with the broker raising its price target on the entertainment giant to $ 200 from $ 155. Shares increased by 1.8%.

• IBMIBM stock,
  -10.68%
  decreased by almost 10% after its quarterly update.

• IntelINTC shares,
  -6.56%
  they skidded 5% earlier on Friday.

• Actions of Schlumberger Ltd.
  SLB,
  -0.21%
  were in the spotlight after the oil services company exceeded profit forecasts and exceeded revenue expectations for the first time in four quarters. Shares fell 0.3%.

• Aurora Cannabis Inc..’s ACB,
  -6.36%
  The $ 125 million funding is not surprising, but it may not be enough for the Canadian company to establish a necessary foothold in the United States, Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett said Friday. Shares fell 6.9% early Friday.

• Actions of Climate change crisis Real impact I Acquisition Corp.. CLII,
  + 57.20%
  increased by almost 70% after the special procurement company announced an agreement under which EVgo Services LLC will go public. EVgo, which prides itself on being “the largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles in the country,” said it expects revenues of $ 575 million from the merger agreement, the combined company estimates at $ 2.6 billion.

How are other assets doing?

• Yield on the 10-year treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y,
  1.095%
  fell 1.8 basis points to about 1.09%. Bond yields and prices are moving in opposite directions.

• ICE US Dollar DXY Index,
  + 0.13%,
  a measure of the currency against a basket of six major rivals, increased by 0.1% on that day, but moved towards a weekly decline of 0.5%.

• Oil futures traded sharply as COVID-19 spread across Europe and Asia, with US reference CL.1,
  -1.88%
  2.7% lower at $ 51.69 a barrel. Gold futures GC00,
  -0.99%
  withdrew, with the February contract GCG21,
  -0.99%
  down 1.2% to $ 1,843 an ounce.

• In Europe, the Stoxx 600 Europe SXXP index,
  -0.59%
  traded 0.9% less, while the FTSE 100 UKX in London,
  -0.25%
  was 0.6%.

• In Asian trade, Shanghai Composite SHCOMP,
  -0.40%
  decreased by 0.4%, CIS in China 300 000300,
  + 0.09%
  closed less than 0.1%, while Hang Seng Index HSI in Hong Kong,
  -1.60%
  decreased by 1.6%, and the Japanese Nikkei 225 NIK,
  -0.44%
  closed 0.4% lower.