Skip to main content

Featured

Wall Street Eyes Weekly Gain as Peace Hopes Lift Futures

  Wall Street Poised for Weekly Gain as Futures Climb on Middle East Peace Hopes Wall Street looked set to close the week on a positive note as U.S. equity futures climbed Friday, supported by renewed optimism that diplomatic progress in the Middle East could ease geopolitical tensions. Investors have been highly sensitive to any signs of de‑escalation, and this week’s developments helped unwind some of the risk premiums that had weighed on global markets. Oil prices, which surged earlier in the month on fears of supply disruptions, pulled back again as ceasefire discussions gained traction. Lower energy costs have helped cool inflation expectations, giving markets a bit more breathing room after a volatile stretch. Major U.S. indexes are now on track for a weekly gain, with tech and consumer stocks leading the rebound. Still, analysts caution that sentiment remains fragile: any setback in negotiations could quickly revive market turbulence. For Canadian investors, easing oil v...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

U.S. Consumer Prices Rise More Than Expected in December; Weekly Jobless Claims Fall

 

The U.S. consumer prices rose more than expected in December, according to a recent report by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% last month after nudging up 0.1% in November

The cost of shelter accounted for more than half of the increase in the CPI. In the 12 months through December, the CPI rose 3.4% after increasing 3.1% in November. This increase was higher than the 0.2% on the month and 3.2% on a year-on-year basis that economists polled by Reuters had forecasted.

In addition, the report also stated that weekly jobless claims fell. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 205,000 for the week ended Dec. 18, the Labor Department said.

This report could delay a much anticipated interest rate cut in March from the Federal Reserve. With the resilient labor market keeping wage growth elevated, some economists expect a rate cut in May or June.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment