Companies cautious on impact of Omicron coronavirus variant

• Pandemic-weary corporations struggled to assess the impact of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Monday, with industries from airlines to autos awaiting more details to help determine how it might affect their operations and profits. 
• The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the Omicron variant carries a very high global risk of infection surges. Spooked investors wiped roughly $2 trillion off global stocks on Friday, but markets were calmer on Monday. 
• Countries have swiftly imposed bans on travel from southern Africa, where the variant was first discovered. Japan and Israel went even further, announcing bans on all foreign arrivals.

(Source: Reuters)