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Canada Holds Steady: Interest Rate Pause Signals Cautious Confidence

                      The Bank of Canada also held its policy rate at its last scheduled rate announcement in December. The Bank of Canada has opted to keep its key interest rate at 2.25% , a move that underscores a careful balancing act as the country approaches a pivotal moment in North American trade relations. With CUSMA (the Canada‑United States‑Mexico Agreement) negotiations on the horizon, policymakers appear intent on maintaining stability while assessing potential economic turbulence. The decision reflects a mix of optimism and prudence. Inflation has been easing gradually, giving the central bank some breathing room. At the same time, global economic uncertainty and the high stakes of upcoming trade talks mean officials are reluctant to introduce new variables into the financial system. By holding the rate steady, the Bank of Canada signals confidence in the economy’s underlying resilience while acknowledgin...

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Stocks Open on a Positive Note as Earnings Season Kicks Off

 

The stock market opened on a positive note today, with stocks edging up as the earnings season kicks off. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.2%, or about 75 points, while the benchmark S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced about 0.3%. 

The earnings season is seen as a crucial chance for stocks to shake off the losses built in the year so far. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all posted decent results on Friday, but the latter two saw shares fall as they failed to settle nerves about potential pain ahead.

Oil prices jumped more than 2% after the US and its allies launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, drawing threats of reprisals from the Iran-backed group behind Red Sea attacks on shipping. Meanwhile, investors are looking for more insight into price pressures after the consumer CPI reading came in hotter than expected on Thursday. 

On Friday, the producer price index showed an unexpected fall in prices last month, boosting hopes that inflation will continue to cool in the months ahead.



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