According to final results at the close, the Dow Jones index gained 1.40% to 35,719.43 points.

The Nasdaq jumped 3.03% to 15,686.92 points, posting its best session since March.

The broader S&P 500 index climbed 2.07% to 4,686.75 points.

The stock market, particularly that of Nasdaq tech stocks, which had suffered since the appearance of the Omicron variant a week ago, has revived optimism based on preliminary information "suggesting that the Omicron variant does not may not be as bad as the previous ones, ”Schwab analysts summed up.

It is "almost certain" that the Omicron variant is not more serious than Delta, White House adviser on the health crisis, Anthony Fauci, told AFP on Tuesday.

For Karl Haeling, analyst for LBBW, "the topic of the day focused on reducing concern about the Omicron variant".

"There was not much new on Tuesday," he said, but investor sentiment was fed "by comments over the weekend from South Africa and Dr Fauci claiming that there is no has no sign of severe symptoms ".

"The market had become too pessimistic. It was oversold," he said as news of the new variant last week pushed the Dow Jones down to its September level.

Short rates on Treasury bills (2 years) have tightened significantly.

This bond stress reflected the outlook that the US Central Bank (Fed) may announce during its meeting next week that it will step up its decline in monetary support, which would open the door to a rate hike sooner.

"And if the stock market performs well, that will probably support the Fed in its intention to tighten the screws," predicted Karl Haeling.

10-year Treasury bill rates also edged up to 1.48% from 1.43% the day before.

Among the indicators, the US trade deficit narrowed in October on the back of a rebound in exports.

Nasdaq mega-caps led the dance.

Apple gained 3.54% to $ 171, Tesla 4.24% to $ 1,051.

Google and Amazon are up almost 3%.

Semiconductor maker Intel jumped 3.10% after announcing that it planned to bring its Israeli subsidiary Mobileye, which specializes in autonomous driving technologies, to Wall Street in mid-2022.

Shares of auto parts chain Autozone soared 7.64% to $ 2,023.

The group posted amazing results with a turnover up 13.6% in the first quarter of its fiscal year, well above expectations.

Autozone has taken advantage of the tendency for motorists to maintain and repair their cars as the new and used car market is congested and expensive.

The titles of the Californian laboratory Vir Biotechnology (VIR), partner of the British GlaxoSmithKline on a treatment against the coronavirus, jumped by 11.96%.

GSK said its experimental treatment remained active "against key mutations in the novel Omicron variant", according to preclinical data.

The VIX index, known as the "fear index" which measures the risks of market volatility, fell back to its levels at the end of November, before the announcement of the appearance of the Omicron variant.

© 2021 AFP