Stocks Extend Slide Amid Lingering Virus Concern: Markets Wrap Bloomberg 12/22/2020 Kamaron Leach and Cecile Gutscher (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks fell for a third day as optimism over a Covid-19 relief bill was tempered by the emergence of a new variant of the virus and a slew of lockdowns and travel curbs to contain it. The dollar advanced and Treasuries gained. Popular Searches The benchmark S&P 500 fluctuated between gains and losses before closing lower, with consumer services and energy the biggest sector decliners. The Nasdaq Composite and Russell 2000 set record highs in what is a holiday shortened week. U.S. lawmakers cleared a $2.3 trillion year-end spending bill and stimulus package. President-elect Joe Biden warned the “darkest days” of the pandemic were still to come and called on Congress to be ready early next year to produce another stimulus package.