• Fears over the Omicron variant, the effectiveness of current vaccines against it, and a hawkish shift in the Fed’s remarks have culminated in a choppy trading week for investors

• There are four possible scenarios that could develop – including one where the Omicron variant may boost global growth

• As investors brace for more volatility ahead, there may be selective opportunities in the market swings

• The Omicron variant is a wild card for investors and policymakers. We encourage investors not to make hasty decisions and to stay focused on their investment goals

On Black Friday last week, clothes and gadgets were not the only things on sale. Global stock markets dropped as investors became concerned that the newly discovered Omicron variant could trigger further lockdowns that would derail the global economic recovery. The S&P 500 fell 2.3%, its largest one-day decline since October 2020. The VIX, Wall Street’s so-called “fear gauge”,...