Covid Delta upsurge keeps stock and commodity bulls in check

The Delta variant is responsible for record rises in infections in Australia where another lockdown looks imminent.

LONDON: An upsurge in new infections caused by the Delta coronavirus variant capped equity and commodity price gains on Monday, with Wall Street tipped to open lower and bond yields holding just above multi-week lows.

Markets are also jittery at the start of an eventful week that will see the U.S. second-quarter earnings season kick off, the release of inflation data in several countries, and testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell which will be scrutinised for any talk of tapering.