The S&P 500 hits a 70th record high this year, with U.S. markets set to finish a volatile year on a high. NIAID director Anthony Fauci tells CNBC that the Omicron variant surge is likely to peak in the U.S. by the end of January. In China, troubled property giant Evergrande reportedly misses another bond payment, causing shares to slide. In IPO news, Chinese AI firm Sensetime sees a stellar Hong Kong debut. And President Biden accepts President Putin’s request for talks later this afternoon, as tensions over the Ukrainian border continue to simmer.

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