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Ottawa and Alberta Forge Landmark Energy Accord

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary on Thursday.   In a move that could redefine Canada’s energy landscape, Ottawa and Alberta have signed a new energy deal aimed at strengthening cooperation between the federal government and the province. The agreement signals a major shift in their often-contentious relationship, focusing on shared priorities such as clean energy investment, emissions reduction, and economic growth. The deal outlines commitments to expand renewable energy projects, modernize infrastructure, and support workers transitioning from traditional oil and gas sectors. Both sides emphasized that the accord is designed to balance Alberta’s economic reliance on energy production with Ottawa’s national climate goals. Observers note that this agreement could mark the beginning of a more collaborative era, reducing political friction and positioning Canada as a stronger player in the global energy transition.

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Markets, Tech Leaders Start Friday in the Red

 


Wall Street began the day with a cautious tone as markets dipped into the red. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both edged down by less than 0.2% during early trading. This week has been a seesaw of small gains and losses, largely influenced by a mix of economic data.

One notable report revealed that inflation at the wholesale level last month was hotter than economists had anticipated. This trend of consistently worse-than-expected inflation data has dashed earlier hopes of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates at its upcoming meeting. However, there’s a glimmer of optimism: other reports released on Thursday hinted at some softening in the economy, suggesting that the long-term inflation trend might still be downward. Investors are speculating that the Fed may initiate three rate cuts this year, starting in June.

In pre-market trading, Adobe, the software maker, stumbled by 11.2% after providing tepid guidance, despite surpassing Wall Street’s sales and profit targets. Similarly, Ulta Beauty, the cosmetics retailer, outperformed analysts’ expectations but issued guidance that left investors wanting. Its shares slid 7.2% before the opening bell today.

Global Market Snapshot

  • In Europe, the DAX in Germany rose 0.4%, the FTSE 100 in London saw a modest uptick of less than 0.1%, and the CAC 40 in Paris jumped 0.6%.
  • In Asian trading, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.3% to 38,707.64. Automakers Honda and Nissan gained ground ahead of their collaboration announcement in electric vehicles and auto intelligence technology. Honda Motor Co. rose 1.7%, while Nissan Motor Co. climbed 3.2%.
  • In South Korea, the Kospi dropped 1.9% to 2,666.84. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 1.4% to 16,720.89 due to ongoing housing price declines since February. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite index in China edged up 0.3% to 3,054.64. China’s market watchdog emphasized the need for high-quality economic and social development by announcing tighter standards for listing companies.

In the bond market, Treasurys stabilized somewhat after Thursday’s rise, with the 2-year yield holding at 4.69% and the 10-year yield easing back to 4.27% from 4.29%.

As the dynamic market environment continues to keep investors on their toes, we’ll closely monitor economic data, corporate earnings, and global developments. Stay tuned for further updates throughout the week.

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