Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Wall Street set for another rally as Pfizer booster shows promise on omicron

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York.

Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

U.S. stock futures reversed higher and pointed to gains for a third day on Wednesday after Pfizer said three doses of its vaccine are effective at neutralizing the omicron variant.

This week’s gains put all three stock benchmarks back within striking distance of their all-time highs.

• The Dow was nearly 2% away from its November record close.
• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were 0.4% and 2.3% away, respectively, from their record closes last month.

On Wednesday, at 10 a.m. ET, the government releases the October’s JOLTS data, short for Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

2. Third Pfizer shot against new variant similar to two-dose protection against original

Freeport, N.Y.: Close-up shot of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot being administered in person’s arm as the Mount Sinai South Nassau Vaxmobile vists Freeport High School, in Freeport, New York on November 30, 2021.

Steve Pfost | Newsday | Getty Images

Pfizer said Wednesday a third Covid vaccine shot produces antibody levels comparable with those induced by the initial two-dose series against the original strain, which are associated with a high level of protection. “Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a joint statement with BioNTech.

3. Meta, formerly Facebook, tells staff they can defer their return to U.S. offices

A smartphone with Facebook’s logo is seen in front of displayed Facebook’s new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration taken October 28, 2021.

Dado Ruvic | Reuters

Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, said it’ll fully reopen its U.S. offices on Jan. 31, but it’ll give its employees the option to delay their return by three to five months. The social media behemoth said Tuesday the “office deferral program” is designed to provide its employees with flexibility. In August, Meta said it intended to delay its plan to return U.S. employees to their office until January 2022 due to ongoing concerns with Covid.

4. Brief drop in mortgage rates causes sudden surge in refinancing

A sign is posted in front of a home for sale on September 28, 2021 in …….

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/08/5-things-to-know-before-the-stock-market-opens-wednesday-dec-8.html