A Covid-19 vaccine to be deployed in the U.S. as soon as this weekend won the expected backing of a group of government advisers on Thursday. A Food and Drug Administration panel voted 17 to 4, with one abstention, that the benefits of a vaccine developed by Germany-based BioNTech and U.S.-based Pfizer outweigh any risks. The FDA doesn’t have to follow such recommendations, though it often does. Meanwhile, Moderna may be running to America’s rescue given how few doses the Trump administration reserved compared with other nations. —David E. Rovella 

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Here are today’s top stories

America hit a record 3,054 deaths in one day and now New York, the original epicenter of the Covid-19 catastrophe before it went on to kill 291,000 nationwide, has reached infection rates that mirror the darkest days of April. Here is the latest on the pandemic. 

The European Central Bank escalated its campaign to shield the euro zone from a possible double-dip recession with another burst of cash. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a gloomy assessment of Brexit talks with the European Union, but others close to the down-to-the-wire negotiations see posturing and perhaps some hope.

Still, Wall Street remains unimpressed. Morgan Stanley plans to move about 100 billion euros ($120 billion) of assets to Frankfurt, becoming the latest big bank to put the U.K. on the shelf.

A special purpose acquisition company agreed to acquire EV Charged, a unit of French utility Engie specializing in electric-vehicle charging technology. The deal will create an entity valued at $1.4 billion.

Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones’s potential selection as President-elect Joe Biden’s attorney general could lead to that most unlikely of scenarios if the Republicans retain control of the Senate: a relatively easy confirmation with bipartisan support.

Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones of Alabama 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance is a 169-year-old company. But that didn’t stop it from purchasing $100 million in Bitcoin for its general investment fund.

How did nine traders hit a $660 million gusher with negative oil? Over the course of a few hours on April 20, a guy called Cuddles and eight of his pals from the freewheeling world of London’s commodities markets rode oil’s crash to riches, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

Yesterday’s Evening Briefing incorrectly stated the net worth of the three founders of DoorDash. Following the company’s IPO, they are now worth up to $2.8 billion each.

What you’ll need to know tomorrow

• What would happen if Facebook was actually broken up?
• China to slap sanctions on U.S officials and their families.
• Charter flight cabin crews told to wear diapers on risky Covid flights.
• McConnell signals Republicans will block Covid rescue package.
• Meanwhile, U.S. unemployment is spiking again.
• China rich kids are trying to avoid the wrath of President Xi Jinping.
• Should you jump into the Airbnb stock-buying frenzy? Read this first.

What you’ll want to read in Bloomberg Checkout

Oh No! The Cookies Might Be Running Out!

The maker of Pepperidge Farm products warned it’s working through “supply constraints” in its cookie division. A combination of labor shortages due to Covid-19 and elevated demand as people stay home is driving the cookie-sector into dangerous territory. If somebody doesn’t do something soon, it could mean very bad news for an already grim holiday season.

Cookie Monster will not be pleased.

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