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Moderna reports ‘positive data’ on early-stage coronavirus vaccine trial

  
  Analysis
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Just about everyone is making vaccine progress these days

It is tough to try and make sense of the developments of a coronavirus vaccine when we are trading on whatever the companies are telling us, rather than the science of it. But hey, that’s what happens when you don’t have that medical/biotech background.
In a statement today, Moderna is saying that it has had ‘positive data’ from its early-stage human trial for a coronavirus vaccine. Shares are jumping by more than 10% in pre-market as the company reports on their progress and this is also lifting general sentiment.
According to reports, the vaccine helped to produce coronavirus antibodies in all 45 participants of the trial. From a report by CNBC:

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Researchers in France are investigating if nicotine could protect people from contracting the coronavirus

  
  Analysis
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AFP have the article, citing researchers at a Paris hospital

  • examined 343 coronavirus patients along with 139 people infected with the illness with milder symptoms.
  • found that a low number of them smoked, compared to smoking rates of around 35 percent in France’s general population.
  • “Among these patients, only five percent were smokers”
  • research echoed similar findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine on China research
Here is the link for more (best to read it before jumping to any conclusions, K?)
Love this pic BTW
AFP have the article, citing researchers at a Paris hospital 

China said to urge its citizens to delay foreign travel over virus fears

  
  Analysis
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AFP reports

From the headline, it doesn’t appear to be a hard rule but more of a travel advisory – along the lines of asking travelers to reconsider their plans. These travel warnings have always been a bit of a blur line and in my view, I don’t ever see them having much impact.

But if we do see a significant drop in Chinese travelers around the world, expect that to weigh on global economic conditions even more to start the year – especially in economies that rely heavily on tourism and services.
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