A New Market Week, Oil Prices Hit a Seven-Year High, Goldman Cuts U.S. Growth Forecast, Southwest Flight Cancellations, Merck Asks FDA to Approve COVID Pill for Emergency Use, CEO Changes at KKR and a $56M "Bond" Debut at the Box office

Squawk on the Street

Jim Cramer and David Faber led off the show with a look at what investors should do in wake of the recent rally in energy prices: WTI crude surging to a seven-year high and natural gas up 50% over the past three months. The anchors highlighted Goldman Sachs lowering its U.S. growth forecasts for 2021 and 2022 as the firm expects a "delayed recovery in consumer spending" and no improvement in the global chip supply until next year. Jim and David also discussed a rough start for Southwest: Shares under pressure after the airline announced hundreds of additional flight cancellations on top of the 1,800 that took place over the weekend, citing bad weather, air traffic control issues and staff shortages. Southwest also disputes speculation that its high level of cancellations compared to other airlines were due to employee protests of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Speaking of the pandemic, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced submission of an emergency use authorization application to the FDA for their oral COVID-19 treatment. The anchors reacted to what former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC about when he believes Merck's COVID pill will hit the markets. Changes at the top of KKR: Co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts stepped down as Co-CEOs of the private equity firm. The anchors explored what this means for KKR and the world of P.E. Also in focus: Big banks kicking off earnings season later this week, Chinese stocks continue to rebound, Emerson Electric's $11-billion merger deal with Aspen Technology, and as movie theaters look to rebound from the pandemic -- the new James Bond film "No Time To Die" debuts by grossing $56-million at the box office domestically. It was the weekend’s top performer but just shy of consensus estimates.