The Monday Mix: Nov. 22 – 28, 2021

Headlines to start the week:

A new covid variant, named Omicron, was identified in South Africa. This prompted short term travel bans to the region by several countries.

Initial jobless claims dropped to 199,000, the lowest level since 1969.

— Durable goods orders fell by half a percent, surprising economists. This was led by lowered orders for aircrafts and their parts.  

— Existing home sales hit a nine-month high after rising 0.8% in October as the US housing market continues to roll. This was a positive surprise as economist were predicting a significant decline. 

The European Central Bank (ECB) reviewed the preparedness of the European banking sector to climate and environmental risks. Major shortfalls were found, with no banks meeting expectations.