U.S. tech majors slide and the 10-year yield touches 1.7% after the Fed minutes hint at efforts to shrink the balance sheet together with rate hikes. At least seven EU countries report record daily Covid cases – while the UK eases testing rules. And French supermarket giant Auchan eyes a second bid for rival Carrefour after initial takeover talks were suspended in October.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.