US futures are indicating a higher open as of 05:00 ET. European equity markets are lower, following mixed Asian trade. The market's primary focus remains on the Omicron Covid variant. The low South African hospitalization rate suggests the Omicron variant may not be as severe as feared. The Omicron variant is fueling debate about its implications for inflation. There are concerns over Northern Ireland hampering the US-UK deal on metal tariffs. Companies mentioned: Amphenol (NYSE:APH), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL).