Fed Moves vs. Omicron Fears - Market Reaction, the CDC's Holiday COVID Warning, Apple Shifts on "Return to Work", Plus: McDonald's, Its Former CEO and the $105M Settlement.

The morning after a Fed-fueled rally, Carl Quintanilla and Jim Cramer explored the decision by Fed Chair Powell and his fellow policymakers to ramp up tapering – while indicating they might raise interest rates three times by the end of 2022. How should future rate hikes and the omicron variant outbreak fit into your investment strategy? The CDC has warned of a 55% surge in weekly COVID cases by Christmas Day, while Apple said it is delaying employees' return to the office to a date "yet to be determined." McDonald's reached a lawsuit settlement with its former CEO Steve Easterbrook, who had been fired for misconduct. Easterbrook paid back compensation valued at $105 million. Also in focus: Adobe and Lennar fall on earnings while Delta projects a surprise Q4 profit, a big list of Wall Street upgrades and downgrades, and the latest on Ford, Rivian and the EV wars.