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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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Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate Steady Amidst Economic Slowdown

 


The Bank of Canada has announced that it will maintain its benchmark interest rate at 5% as the economy shows signs of slowing down. This marks the fourth consecutive hold by the bank, and the decision was widely expected by economists. The central bank’s inflation target sits in the middle of a range, and the Consumer Price Index rose to 3.4% in December 2023. The bank has been signalling recently that it thinks it may be nearing the end of its hiking cycle, after raising its trendsetting rate 10 times since early 2022 to slow down runaway inflation.


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