US OPEN: Wall Street opens higher on vaccine roll-out

• US lawmakers plan to split $908 billion COVID-19 plan
• Vaccine rollout begins in the US
• AstraZeneca (AZN.UK) moves on Alexion (ALXN.US)

US indices launched first session of the week higher, as investors weigh up the rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine and updates on a new coronavirus relief package. US Food and Drug Administration granted authorization of the Pfizer (PFE.US) /BioNTech (BNTX.US) Covid-19 vaccine of  Friday and the CDC formally signed off on vaccinations to begin as early as Monday. Travel stocks surged based on this news. Cruise operators Carnival (CCL.US) Corp and Royal Caribbean (RCL.US) Cruises jumped 4.7% and 3.1%, respectively, in premarket, while stocks of major airline operators gained between 1.5% and 3.0%, with American Airlines Group (AAL.US) trading nearly 4% higher. Meanwhile the number of COVID-19-linked deaths in the US surpassed 300,000. Number of new infections continue to surge, with more than 247,000 cases reported on Friday - a new daily record. US lawmakers plan to split a $908 COVID-19 aid-bill in two parts to make it easier for approval and it would be introduced formally on Monday. One bill will be a $748 billion proposal, which includes money for small business loans, jobless benefits and vaccine distribution, and is expected to pass. The second includes $160 billion for state and local aid that includes liability protections for businesses and other entities, the two biggest points of contention.

US100 – index launched today’s session higher, attempting to rebound from recent losses. At the moment index is trading above the support at 12,400 pts, however if the current sentiment prevails, the upward move could be extended to the 12,500 pts handle or even 12,669 pts, where all-time highs are located. Source: xStation5

Alexion (ALXN.US) stock surged 32%  after Britain's AstraZeneca (AZN.UK) agreed to buy the U.S. drugmaker for $39 billion in its largest ever deal. The move will help expand AstraZeneca’s presence in treatments for rare diseases.

Alexion (ALXN.US) stock launched today’s session with a massive bullish price gap. Stock is trading above the long-term downward trendline and currently price is approaching local resistance at $162.39 – level not seen since April 2016. If sellers will manage to halt advances there, then a downward correction may be on the cards. Nearest support lies at $150.20 level. Source: xStation5

Alphabet (GOOGL.US) – Multiple Google services, including Gmail and YouTube, suffered a widespread outage this morning for an undetermined reason.

Nio (NIO.US) – shares dropped over 5% in premarket after its stock offering was priced at $39 per American Depositary Share, compared to Friday’s close of $41.98.  The China-based electric car maker’s announced it plans to use the funds for research and development, sales and service network expansion and general corporate purposes.

Apartment Investment and Management (AIV.US)  will be removed from the S&P 500 index on Friday to make room for Tesla (TSLA.US). The real estate investment trust is spinning off its Apartment Income REIT and expects to complete that move today. Company's stock fell 4% in the premarket.

Airbnb (ABNB.US) stock fell nearly 3% in pre-market after company received a double downgrade at Gordon Haskett Research Advisors. Company's rating was reduced to “underperform” from “buy.” Haskett said valuation for the newly public stock is stretched and that an “overwhelming majority” of investors that it’s spoken to are interested in realization their quick gains.