Skip to main content

Featured

Beijing’s Show of Force: China Launches Major Drills Around Taiwan

  A ship fires a weapon during drills east of Taiwan in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Dec. 29, 2025. China has initiated large‑scale military exercises around Taiwan, framing the operation as a direct warning to what it calls separatist forces and foreign supporters. The drills, conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command, involve naval vessels, fighter jets, and missile units operating across multiple zones encircling the island. According to Chinese military statements, the exercises are designed to test joint combat readiness and simulate scenarios such as blockades and precision strikes. The move follows heightened tensions over international engagement with Taiwan, including recent arms sales and diplomatic exchanges that Beijing views as challenges to its sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s defense ministry denounced the drills as coercive and destabilizing, placing its military on alert and trac...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

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.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment