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Winter's Dawn: Celebrating the Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which occurred on December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, signaling the official start of winter. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Julia Gomez from USA TODAY explore the significance of this astronomical event and how it is celebrated across different cultures. The solstice, occurring when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, brings the least amount of daylight and the longest night. This year, the solstice fell on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. EST, marking the astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, the Winter Solstice has been a time of celebration and reflection. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans with their Saturnalia festival and the Norsemen with their bonfires, honored the return of the sun and the promise of longer days ahead. Today, people continue to observe the solstice with various traditions, including gatherings, feasts, and rituals that pay homage to the natural cycles of l...
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S&P/TSX Composite Rises and Nasdaq Leads Wall Street Rally After Tech Earnings


On Friday, the S&P/TSX composite index saw gains, while U.S. markets also rose, driven by strong performances in tech stocks. The Nasdaq surged by two percent, fueled by impressive earnings reports from major tech companies like Microsoft and Alphabet.

Key Highlights:

  1. Tech Stocks Shine: Large tech names played a pivotal role in the rally. Both Microsoft and Alphabet reported solid earnings, boosting investor confidence. Alphabet even announced its first quarterly dividend.

  2. Interest Rates and Shareholder Returns: The higher interest rate environment has benefited companies with substantial cash reserves. These firms are now seeing better returns on their cash, allowing them to reward shareholders.

  3. Fed and Inflation: The U.S. Federal Reserve closely monitors inflation. The recent personal consumption expenditure report indicated that inflation remained stubbornly high in March but was in line with forecasts. Investors are still expecting at least one rate cut from the Fed later this year.

  4. Market Volatility: Despite recent economic reports coming in stronger than expected, the markets experienced volatility. April could potentially be the first down month for Wall Street after a significant rally earlier in the year.

Market Closings:

  • S&P/TSX Composite Index: Closed up 83.86 points at 21,969.24.
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 153.86 points at 38,239.66.
  • S&P 500 Index: Up 51.54 points at 5,099.96.
  • Nasdaq Composite: Up 316.14 points at 15,927.90.

Commodity Prices:

  • Canadian Dollar (CAD): Traded at 73.16 cents US.
  • Crude Oil (June Contract): Up 28 cents at US$83.85 per barrel.
  • Natural Gas (May Contract): Down three cents at US$1.61 per 1,000 cubic feet.
  • Gold (June Contract): Up US$4.70 at US$2,347.20 per ounce.
  • Copper (May Contract): Up four cents at US$4.56 per pound.

In summary, the tech sector’s strong performance drove market gains, while investors closely monitored inflation and interest rates. Despite recent volatility, the overall market remains resilient.


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