Skip to main content

Featured

Sudden Shake-Up at the Justice Department

Attorney General Pam Bondi is sworn in ahead of testifying before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department, on Capitol Hill. In a surprising move that has sent shockwaves through Washington, former President Donald Trump has dismissed Pam Bondi from her role as U.S. Attorney General. The decision, announced abruptly, has sparked widespread speculation about the motivations behind the firing and its potential political implications. Bondi, who had been a loyal ally of Trump, was appointed amid promises to reinforce the administration’s law-and-order agenda. Her tenure, however, was marked by both staunch support from Trump’s base and criticism from opponents who questioned her independence. Sources close to the situation suggest that internal disagreements and strategic differences may have played a role in the decision. Others point to broader political calculations as Trump continues to reshape his inner circle. The sudden leadership change raises que...

article

TSX rises as energy and consumer staples lead




The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended up 71.66 points, or 0.3%, at 21,061.88 on Monday, approaching its 20-month high of 21,074.91 reached last week. The energy and consumer staples sectors were the main drivers of the gains, as oil prices recovered some of their losses and investors digested a Bank of Canada business survey.

The survey showed that Canadian firms saw their order books decline as interest rates crimped consumer spending, and they expected inflation to ease despite increased concerns over wages for the next year. The report could keep the door open for interest rate cuts in the first half of the year, according to some economists.

The energy sector rose 0.9% as U.S. crude oil futures settled at $72.50 a barrel, down 0.3%. The consumer staples sector added 0.8%, boosted by shares of Saputo Inc and Loblaw Co, which climbed about 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. The utilities sector also ended 1.1% higher.

Trading volumes were lower than usual, with U.S. markets closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. On Tuesday, Canada will release its consumer price index report for December, which could offer more clues on the central bank’s policy outlook. Economists expect inflation to rise to 3.4% from 3.1% in November.

Comments