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Geopolitical Tensions Rattle Wall Street as Futures Slide on Trump’s Iran Warning

  Markets tumbled Thursday morning as renewed geopolitical uncertainty sent U.S. stock futures sharply lower, with investors reacting to President Trump’s latest remarks that the war with Iran is “not yet over.”   U.S. stock futures stumbled early Thursday after President Trump’s national address failed to signal a clear end to the ongoing U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 600 points , while S&P 500 futures fell 1.5% and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 2% , reflecting heightened investor anxiety.  The market’s reaction was driven largely by Trump’s assertion that the conflict is not yet resolved, despite reports that Iran’s president has approached the U.S. about a potential ceasefire. Trump emphasized that any agreement would depend on reopening the Strait of Hormuz , a critical global energy chokepoint. He also warned that U.S. forces would “hit Iran hard” before any withdrawal in the coming weeks.  ...

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TSX set to end the year on a positive note amid global recovery hopes

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is expected to open higher on Friday, the last trading day of 2023, as investors remain optimistic about the global economic recovery from the pandemic.

The TSX closed at a record high of 23,456.78 on Thursday, boosted by gains in energy, financials, and materials sectors. The index has risen more than 20% this year, outperforming its U.S. peers, as Canada’s economy rebounded from the COVID-19 crisis.

The positive sentiment was also supported by the latest data showing that Canada’s GDP grew by 0.4% in October, beating expectations of a 0.2% increase. The growth was driven by the services sector, which expanded by 0.6%, while the goods-producing sector contracted by 0.1%.

On Friday, the TSX futures were up 0.3% at 7:30 a.m. ET, indicating a higher open for the cash market. The Canadian dollar was trading at 79.32 U.S. cents, slightly lower than Thursday’s close of 79.36 U.S. cents.

Meanwhile, the U.S. stock futures were also pointing to a higher open, as Wall Street looked to end the year with record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite have gained 18.7%, 26.9%, and 21.4% respectively this year, as the U.S. economy recovered from the pandemic-induced recession.

The U.S. markets will close early at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, while the TSX will close at its regular time of 4 p.m. ET. Both markets will be closed on Monday, January 1, 2024, for the New Year’s Day holiday.

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