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Carney Government Faces First Budget Confidence Test in Commons

                 Prime Minister Mark Carney's budget needs two opposition MPs to either support or abstain it to pass. The House of Commons is set to hold its first confidence vote tied to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s inaugural federal budget on Thursday evening. The vote will focus on a Conservative sub-amendment to a Bloc Québécois amendment, both of which challenge key elements of the government’s fiscal plan. The Liberal government has declared the votes to be matters of confidence , meaning defeat could trigger a federal election. While the stakes are high, the government is expected to survive this initial test thanks to support from the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois , who have both signaled they will vote against the Conservative motion. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies confirmed that his caucus of seven MPs will side with the Liberals, ensuring the defeat of the Conservative sub-amendment. However, Davies ...

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Powell’s Words Rattle Investors

 

US stock futures took a tumble today after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell poured cold water on hopes for an early interest rate cut. As we head into a busy week of corporate earnings, investors are closely watching the impact of Powell’s statements on the recent market rally. S&P 500 ( ^GSPC) futures slipped 0.2%, signaling a pullback from the benchmark’s record-setting run, Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) futures shed roughly 0.2%. and  Nasdaq 100 ( ^NDX) futures dropped 0.1%.

Powell, in a recent “60 Minutes” interview, reiterated the central bank’s cautious approach to rate cuts. He emphasized that the “danger of moving too soon is the job’s not quite done” in quelling inflation. Traders responded by scaling back their bets on rate cuts, not only for March but also for May, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

US bonds sank, with the 10-year Treasury yield ( ^TNX) rising about six basis points to 4.08%. This move reflects the market’s recalibration of expectations following Powell’s remarks.

Investors are now turning their attention to quarterly results. Last week’s triumphant reports from Meta (META) and Amazon (AMZN) fueled the recent rally. Today, McDonald’s (MCD) disappointed with sales falling short of Wall Street estimates. The coming days will be crucial as a wave of corporate earnings reports determines whether the rally can sustain its momentum.


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