It was a risk off day as investors shook off earlier Omicron concerns and bought back part of what they’d given up in the past few days. With indications that this version of the virus is not deadlier, that it may even follow the evolutionary trend of viruses getting weaker over time, and that it still gets beat by the vaccine - JP Morgan advised “buy the dip.”  After falling 3.1 percent on initial virus fears, the Dow is back up 1.86 percent from its low yesterday. Wheat, corn, and soybeans all pared losses earlier in the week as they made it two days in a row of closing higher. 

Instead, there is a new bear in the market, and it had some bullish influence today. That bear is Russia with its saber rattling a...