All three major stock markets open.........>

EQUITIES: All three major stock markets open higher Wednesday, to the tune of

0.8-1.4%, with the S&P500 outperforming very slightly while tech-heavy NASDAQ

lags. 

- The e-mini S&P saw further gains at the open and very briefly showed above the

early June recovery high at 3,231.25 to print up at 3,233.25. Prices have pulled

slightly off these best levels, but remain considerably higher on the day.

- In the S&P500, 450 stocks trade higher, while around 30 are in negative

territory. Early outperformers include cruiseline operators Carnival and

Norwegian, while airlines also rally sharply on last night's Moderna vaccine

news (compounded by positive initial results from AstraZeneca trials in the UK).

Goldman Sachs also trades well after posting expectation-beating earnings

pre-market.

- Energy sector is the strongest overall, with buoyant oil prices helping

support oil & gas names. Industrials and financials aren't far behind, but

defensives underperform, with utilities and consumer staples posting the

smallest gains so far.