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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...
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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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