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Canada’s Jobless Rate Rises to 6.8% Despite December Hiring

          A employee sorts batteries on a conveyor belt at a recycling facility in Port Colborne, Ontario. Canada’s unemployment rate climbed to 6.8% in December , even though the economy added 8,200 jobs during the month. The increase in unemployment wasn’t driven by widespread layoffs but by a surge in the number of people entering the labour force and actively looking for work. December Highlights Unemployment rate: Up from 6.5% to 6.8% Employment: Net gain of 8,200 jobs Labour force: Expanded significantly, outpacing job creation Full-time work: Increased Part-time work: Declined Why the Rate Rose Economists point out that the rise in unemployment reflects renewed labour market participation , not a weakening economy. More Canadians felt confident enough to start job hunting, but hiring didn’t keep pace with the influx of job seekers. This marks the fourth straight month of employment growth , yet December also saw the largest increas...
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European Stocks Surge and Bond Yields Ease as Markets Scale Back Bets on Rate Cuts

 

European stocks surged to a fresh two-year high, and bond yields eased as markets scaled back ambitious bets at the end of 2023 on rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and other major central banks. The S&P 500 also edged higher, with the index poised to set a new record closing high, at the start of a week packed with big corporate earnings, European inflation data, Federal Reserve and Bank of England meetings and U.S. employment data.

The market is trying to understand the outlook for the U.S. economy as it is unlikely to require the deep interest rate cuts by the Fed it has priced in. Absent geopolitical shocks, the U.S. economy will grow better than expected with just a few areas underperforming.

The surge in European stocks and the easing of bond yields can be attributed to the markets scaling back their bets on rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and other major central banks.



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