Asian markets mixed as traders eye virus, inflation, rates

HONG KONG (AFP): Asian markets were mixed Tuesday (Jan 4) as investors struggled to take their lead from yet another record on Wall Street that was fuelled by easing concerns about Omicron and remaining optimism about the economic recovery.

While the new Covid variant is spreading like wildfire around the world, it appears to be far less severe than initially feared, raising hopes that the pandemic could be overcome and life return to a little more normality.