The administration also said it would instruct nursing homes to vaccinate their staffs against Covid-19 or risk losing Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Pfizer's Covid-19 Booster Shot Improves Immunity, Israeli Study Suggests

TEL AVIV-Early data from Israel suggests a booster shot of Pfizer Inc.'s Covid-19 vaccine can significantly improve immunity in those aged 60 and above, as the U.S. and other countries plan additional doses to increase protection against the highly infectious Delta variant.

Israel was one of the first countries late last month to authorize a third Pfizer dose for the elderly who were fully vaccinated with the recommended two shots, after indications that vaccine protection against severe illness has waned.

China Huarong Expects Nearly $16 Billion Loss for 2020, Secures Investors

China Huarong Asset Management said some large Chinese financial institutions have agreed to invest in the distressed asset manager, which is expecting nearly $16 billion of losses for 2020.

Citic Group, China Insurance Investment Co., China Life Management, China Cinda Asset Management are among the investors that have signed an investment agreement, the state-backed asset manager said late Wednesday.

Write to paul.larkins@dowjones.com

Expected Major Events for Thursday

04:30/NED: Jul Unemployment

06:00/SWI: Jul Trade Balance

06:30/NOR: 3Q Consumer Confidence

06:30/SWI: 2Q Industrial Production

07:00/SPN: Jun Trade Balance

08:00/EU: Jun Euro area balance of payments

08:00/NOR: Norges Bank monetary policy decision

08:00/ICE: Jul Harmonized CPI

08:00/POL: Jul PPI

08:00/POL: Jul Industrial Production Index

08:00/POL: Jul Agricultural prices

09:00/ITA: Jun Balance of Payments

23:01/UK: Aug UK Consumer Confidence Survey

All times in GMT. Powered by Kantar Media and Dow Jones.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

08-19-21 0024ET