Biden Asks Americans to ‘Mask Up’ for 100 Days, Criticizing GOP

President-elect Joe Biden called on all Americans to wear masks in public for 100 days to combat the spread of the coronavirus, saying it was “stupid” that face coverings had become a political issue.

“This is a patriotic act,” Biden said in a speech in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday outlining his plan to accelerate vaccinations against the virus. “We’re asking you, we’re in a war with this virus.”

He criticized Republican lawmakers who have refused to wear masks, including while they were sheltering from rioters at the Capitol last week in close quarters with colleagues. Several House members have tested positive for coronavirus infection since the incident.

“What the hell is the matter with them? It’s time to grow up,” he said.

President Donald Trump refused to be seen in public wearing a mask except on a handful of occasions, an example that helped turn a simple public-health measure known to greatly reduce transmission of the virus into a political issue.

“For God’s sake, wear a mask — if not for yourself, for your loved ones, for your country,” Biden said. He, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and other officials in his incoming administration are frequently seen in masks.

Rupee gains 6 paise to close near five-month high of 72.99 against U.S. dollar

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, slipped 0.31% to 90.19.

Extending its gains for the third straight session, the Indian rupee added another 6 paise to settle at a near five-month high of 72.99 against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, tracking a weaker American currency overseas and sustained foreign fund inflows.

At the interbank forex market, the rupee opened higher at 72.96 and touched the day’s high of 72.93 against the greenback before shedding some gains towards the fag-end of the session.

It finally closed higher by 6 paise at 72.99 to the dollar, a level not seen since September 1, 2020.

On Wednesday, the rupee had settled at 73.05 against the American currency.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, slipped 0.31% to 90.19.

On the domestic equity market front, the BSE Sensex declined 167.36 points or 0.34% to end at 49,624.76; while the NSE Nifty slipped 54.35 points or 0.37% at 14,590.35.

Foreign institutional investors remained net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth ₹2,289.05 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, dropped 0.87% to $55.59 per barrel.

Gold Futures Settle Higher

Gold prices moved higher on Monday, rebounding after a severe setback that resulted in the biggest single-day loss in terms of percentage in two months on Friday.

Lower treasury yields and falling stock prices amid worries over rising coronavirus cases aided gold’s surge.

However, a stronger dollar limited gold’s uptick. The dollar index, which rose to 90.73, was up nearly 0.4% at 90.45 a little while ago.

Gold futures for February ended with a gain of $15.40 or about 0.8% at $1,850.80 an ounce.

Silver futures for March ended up $0.647 at $25.284 an ounce, while Copper futures for March settled at $3.5645 per pound, down $0.1090 from previous close.

Coronavirus cases have been rising in several countries across the world. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned locals “these next winter weeks will be the hardest phase of the pandemic”.

Concerns about developments in Washington also weighed on stocks as Democrats prepare another attempt to remove President Donald Trump from office.

House Democrats are preparing to once again impeach Trump even though the president has less than two weeks left in his term.

After the siege of the U.S. Capitol building by Trump supporters last week, Democrats are concerned about additional incitement by the president in his final days in office.

Boston Scientific Preliminary Q4 Sales Down Approx. 8.0% On Organic Basis – Quick Facts

Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) reported net sales of approximately $2.71 billion during the fourth quarter of 2020, a decline of approximately 6.8 percent on a reported basis, approximately 8.3 percent on an operational basis and approximately 8.0 percent on an organic basis, year-on-year.

For the full year 2020, Boston Scientific Corp. generated net sales of approximately $9.91 billion, a decline of approximately 7.7 percent on a reported basis, approximately 7.8 percent on an operational basis and approximately 11.3 percent on an organic basis, from previous year.

Philippines Allows Sinovac to Hold Covid Vaccine Trials

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has allowed China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. to hold clinical trials in the Southeast Asian nation for its coronavirus vaccine, the regulator’s head Eric Domingo said.

The local regulator is still waiting for Sinovac to submit documents on late-stage trials before processing its separate application for emergency use in the Philippines, Domingo said in an interview with state-run PTV-4.

Sinovac’s vaccine had vastly different efficacy rates in four clinical trial sites, fueling concerns on its effectivity in stemming outbreaks. The Philippines has said it will buy 25 million vaccine doses from Sinovac, expecting the first shipment to arrive as early as next month.

New York City To Terminate Business Contracts With Trump Following Capitol Riot

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will terminate business contracts with President Donald Trump after last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday.

The Trump Organization is under city contract to operate the two ice rinks and a carousel in Central Park as well as a golf course in the Bronx.

The Trump Organization profits about $17 million a year from those sites, de Blasio said.

“I’m here to announce that the city of New York is severing all contracts with the Trump Organization,” de Blasio said. 

An email seeking comment was sent Wednesday to the Trump Organization.

It is the latest example of how the Jan. 6 breach by violent Trump supporters is impacting the Republican president’s business interests.

The PGA of America voted Sunday to take the PGA Championship away from his New Jersey golf course next year, a move that came after social media platforms disabled Trump’s accounts and Shopify took down online stores affiliated with him.

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