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NATO Tensions Spike as Trump Blasts Allies Over Iran Conflict

The US president complained NATO countries did not want to join the fight against Iran, yet still complain about high oil prices. U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized NATO allies on Friday, accusing them of failing to support the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran and branding the alliance “cowards. Rising Friction Within the Alliance Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump argued that NATO partners were unwilling to contribute meaningfully to the conflict, despite benefiting from U.S. security guarantees. He declared on social media that “without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER,” warning that Washington would “remember” the lack of support.  Strategic Stakes The criticism comes as tensions escalate across the Middle East, with the U.S. and Israel engaged in active military operations against Iran. Trump has repeatedly urged NATO members to take a more assertive role, particularly in securing strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.  Broader Hum...
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Canadian Stocks Edge Higher, U.S. Markets Slip on Last Trading Day of 2023

 

Canadian stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, the last trading day of 2023, as gains in the industrials and utilities sectors offset losses in the energy and materials sectors. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 29.06 points, or 0.14%, to end at 20,958.44, capping off a year of strong performance amid the recovery from the pandemic.

Meanwhile, U.S. markets dipped as investors took profits and weighed the impact of the Omicron variant on the economic outlook. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 20.56 points, or 0.05%, to 37,689.54, while the S&P 500 index dropped 13.52 points, or 0.28%, to 4,769.83. The Nasdaq composite index, which is heavily weighted with technology stocks, declined 83.78 points, or 0.56%, to 15,011.35.

The Canadian dollar traded lower against its U.S. counterpart, as the greenback strengthened on the back of higher Treasury yields. The loonie was down 0.08 cents at 75.61 cents US.

In commodities, oil prices edged lower as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to stick to their plan of gradually increasing output in January, despite concerns over the demand outlook. The February crude oil contract was down 12 cents at US$71.65 per barrel. Natural gas prices also slipped, with the February natural gas contract down four cents at US$2.51 per mmBTU.

Gold prices fell as the appetite for safe-haven assets waned, while copper prices also dropped amid a stronger U.S. dollar. The February gold contract was down US$11.70 at US$2,071.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was down three cents at US$3.89 a pound.

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