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Rising Tensions Leave Ships Stranded in Key Oil Passage

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday, choking off a key artery accounting for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, has raised urgent concerns over an increasingly alarming situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where dozens of vessels remain stranded amid escalating conflict involving Iran. He emphasized the need to safeguard global shipping and protect seafarers as the strategic waterway—responsible for roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows—remains closed for a fourth consecutive day.  The closure has disrupted international trade routes and heightened anxiety across the maritime sector. Greek authorities have urged shipowners to exercise maximum caution and avoid high‑risk zones in the wider Persian Gulf region as tensions continue to rise. The prolonged shutdown underscores the vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical instability and highlights th...

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Canadian Service Sector Shrinks for Seventh Straight Month in December

 


According to S&P Global Canada services PMI data, the Canadian service sector shrank for the seventh consecutive month in December 2023, as elevated borrowing costs weighed on the housing market. The headline business activity index edged up to 44.6 in December from a near three-and-a-half-year low of 44.5 in November. However, it remained well below the 50 threshold that separates growth from contraction.

The Canadian service sector is a significant contributor to the country’s economy, and its contraction could have far-reaching implications. The sector includes industries such as finance, insurance, real estate, professional services, and retail trade. The contraction of the service sector could lead to a decline in employment opportunities and a decrease in consumer spending.


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