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Futures Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Overshadow Strong Bank Earnings

  US stock futures edged lower as investors balanced upbeat bank earnings against rising geopolitical unease tied to escalating tensions involving Iran. Contracts tied to the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all traded in the red, signaling a cautious start to the trading day. Major banks delivered solid quarterly results, with strong trading revenue and resilient consumer activity helping lift sentiment in the financial sector. Yet the optimism was tempered by concerns that potential US responses to developments in Iran could inject fresh volatility into global markets. Energy prices climbed as traders braced for possible disruptions. The pullback comes at a moment when investors are already navigating a crowded landscape of economic data, inflation readings, and policy uncertainty. With markets on edge, even strong corporate performance wasn’t enough to counter the broader risk-off mood.

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Canada’s Job Market Remains Steady in December 2023



Canada’s economy added just 100 jobs in December and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. Employment growth slowed in the second half of 2023, averaging 23,000 per month, compared with the first six months of 2023, when it averaged 48,000 per month. At the same time, average hourly wages increased 5.4 per cent year-over-year, following a rise of 4.8 per cent in November.

Canada’s job market remained steady in December 2023, with the economy adding just 100 jobs and the unemployment rate holding steady at 5.8 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. The data agency said that employment was virtually unchanged from November, following an increase of 25,000 jobs the previous month. Employment growth slowed in the second half of 2023, averaging 23,000 per month, compared with the first six months of 2023, when it averaged 48,000 per month. At the same time, average hourly wages increased 5.4 per cent year-over-year, following a rise of 4.8 per cent in November. This is a significant increase in wages, which could help to offset the slower employment growth in the second half of the year.


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