Skip to main content

Featured

Markets Steady as Tariff Tensions Ease and Trade Talks Gain Momentum

U.S. stock futures edged higher Tuesday morning, signaling cautious optimism among investors following President Trump's latest tariff announcements. Futures tied to the S&P 500 rose 0.12% , while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.25% , as markets digested the news of steep import duties on 14 countries and a delayed implementation date of August 1 . The tariff threats—ranging from 25% to 40% —initially rattled markets, with major indexes closing lower on Monday. However, the postponement has opened a window for renewed trade negotiations , giving investors hope that diplomatic efforts may avert a full-blown trade war. Global Respons:  Countries like South Korea and Japan , both targeted by the tariffs, have signaled readiness to accelerate trade talks. Meanwhile, Wall Street is keeping a close eye on upcoming Federal Reserve minutes and corporate earnings , with Delta Air Lines set to kick off the season later this week. With the deadline extended and negotiations underway, invest...

article

US Stocks Hit Record Highs as Canada Lags Behind


The US stock markets continued their upward momentum on Friday, reaching new record highs amid a strong jobs report and a rally in tech giants. The S&P 500 index rose 1.3% to close at 4,937.96, while the Nasdaq composite surged 1.9% to end at 15,536.25. Meta Platforms and Amazon were among the biggest gainers, as the former announced a surge in profits and the latter beat earnings expectations.

The US economy added 304,000 jobs in January, beating forecasts and signaling a robust recovery from the pandemic. The unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, the lowest since March 2020. The solid labor data boosted investor confidence and reduced the odds of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in the near future.

Meanwhile, Canada’s main stock index posted a small loss on Friday, weighed down by losses in the base metal, telecommunications and utility sectors. The S&P/TSX composite index fell 0.3% to finish at 21,052.57. The Canadian dollar traded for 74.32 cents US, down from 74.60 cents US on Thursday.

The Canadian economy shed 71,000 jobs in January, missing expectations and reversing some of the gains made in December. The unemployment rate rose to 6.4%, the highest since June 2020. The disappointing jobs report added to the concerns over the impact of the Omicron variant and the high inflation on the Canadian economy.

Comments