Asian stocks mixed with traders sensitive to Omicron headlines

HONG KONG (AFP): Asian markets were mixed Thursday (Dec 2) and oil edged up with traders still trying to claw back their latest Omicron-induced losses but still full of uncertainty after Wall Street suffered a late plunge in response to the United States reporting its first case.

News that a patient had come down with the new variant sent shivers through US investors who fear authorities will be forced to reintroduce strict containment measures or even lockdowns, derailing the recovery in the world's top economy.