U.S. stock higher in pre-market trading for,Dec 30The Dow Futures is trading at 30,326.00 up with +0.29% percent or +88.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 3,733.62 up with +0.37% percent or +13.62 point.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 12,887.50 up with +0.36% percent or +46.50 point.

Wednesday’s Factors and Events

The first case of a new and potentially more infectious strain of Covid-19 has been confirmed in the United States, Colorado health officials said Tuesday.

Colorado health officials confirmed the case and notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The infected individual is in isolation in Elbert County, about an hour and a half south of Denver. Officials said the man, who is in his 20s, does not have a travel history.

“There is a lot we don’t know about this new Covid-19 variant, but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious. The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will closely monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said Tuesday.

Tuesday Activity

For the day the Dow is trading at 30,335.67 with a loss of –percent or ?68.30 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,727.04 with a loss of – percent or ?8.32 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 12,850.22 with a loss of percent or  -49.20 point.

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,959.36 with a loss of -1.85% percent or -36.89 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 1,107.35 with a loss of – percent or  ?17.59 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 2,283.99 with a loss of – percent or ?25.53 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,713.22 with a loss of – percent or  ?1.99 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 2,232.01  with  a loss of –percent or –8.84 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 2,105.45 with a loss of –or –6.17 point.