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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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Pharmacare in Canada: A Dream or a Reality?

 


The fate of Canada's pharmacare plan is uncertain as the federal government faces challenges in implementing a universal drug coverage program, even if a bill to create one passes in Parliament. Bill C-213, the Canada Pharmacare Act, aims to establish a national framework for pharmacare that would ensure all Canadians have access to prescription drugs based on their medical needs, not their ability to pay. 

However, the bill does not specify how the program would be funded, administered or negotiated with the provinces and territories, leaving many questions unanswered about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of pharmacare. Some experts and stakeholders have expressed doubts about whether Ottawa has the political will, the constitutional authority and the fiscal capacity to deliver on its promise of pharmacare, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has strained the health care system and the public purse.

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