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Canada’s Economy Has Now Stalled Twice. Is Your Emergency Fund Ready?

  Canada’s Economy Has Now Stalled Twice. Is Your Emergency Fund Ready? Canada's economy is losing momentum, and it is a good time to ask yourself an important question: If your income disappeared tomorrow, how long could you cover your bills without borrowing money? Statistics Canada's latest GDP report, released October 30, showed that Canada's economy recorded virtually no growth in August for the second consecutive month. An early estimate suggests economic activity contracted by 0.1% in September. Preliminary figures indicate that the economy grew by just 0.3% during the third quarter, although the official numbers have yet to be released. The slowdown follows a period of economic uncertainty, elevated household expenses and pressure on borrowers. While these figures do not confirm that Canada is entering a recession, they highlight why households should prepare for unexpected financial setbacks. The good news? You do not need a large income to start building a financi...

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US Stocks Slip, Bond Yields Rise as Rate-Cut Bets Cool



US stocks slid on Wednesday as bond yields rose, as optimism for fast interest-rate cuts waned ahead of fresh jobs data and the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) fell 0.3% while the benchmark S&P 500 (GSPC) slipped about 0.5%. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) dropped roughly 0.7% after a bruising session that saw tech stocks shed almost 1.6%.

Hopes that the year-end market rally would roll on into 2024 took a battering on Tuesday as stock indexes and bond prices sank in tandem for their worst start to a year in decades. Bonds are headed lower for a fourth day, pushing the 10-year Treasury yield (TNX) up near 4%.

Traders have started pulling back on bets on Fed interest-rate cuts, with 74% now pricing in a March pivot, compared with 89% a week ago, per the CME FedWatch Tool.

Minutes of the Fed’s December meeting due later could give a window into how near officials think they are to easing up on tightening, so they can nail a “soft landing” for the economy.

Eyes will also be on the JOLTS report on job openings, given the unexpected resilience of the labor market has fed into expectations of a Fed shift. Wednesday’s data will set expectations for the December US monthly jobs report coming Friday.

After a rough first day of trading, investor attention on Wednesday will turn to the labor market with the monthly update on job openings and turnover — known as the JOLTS report — set for release at 10:00 a.m. ET.

A decline in job openings throughout 2023 served as an early indicator the US labor market was slowing, and Wednesday’s data will serve as a key table-setter ahead of Friday’s December jobs report.


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