Skip to main content

Featured

Carney Tempers Expectations on U.S.-Canada Trade Talks

                                             Carney says U.S. tariff reprieve 'unlikely' to happen before CUSMA review talks. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has downplayed the likelihood of a near-term trade deal between Canada and the United States, signaling that any progress will likely be folded into the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) scheduled for 2026. Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa, Carney explained that efforts to secure sector-specific agreements—particularly in industries such as steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber—have stalled since U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly ended negotiations in October. The talks were derailed after Ontario aired a controversial anti-tariff advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan, which drew sharp criticism from Washington. Carney emphasized that while Canada...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

US Futures Rise After Strong February Jobs Report

 


In a positive turn of events, US stock futures remained steady after the release of the February jobs report. The report revealed that the US economy added 275,000 jobs, surpassing Wall Street expectations once again. However, there was a slight increase in the unemployment rate, ticking up to 3.9%, marking its first rise in four months.

Key Takeaways:

  • Job Growth: The economy demonstrated robust job growth, reflecting resilience despite recent challenges.
  • Federal Reserve Implications: The slowdown in job additions could prompt the Federal Reserve to consider interest rate cuts as a preventive measure against rising unemployment.
  • Investor Sentiment: Investors are closely monitoring the data, anticipating the Fed’s response and its impact on the markets.

Market Outlook:

  • S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100: Futures for these indices edged up shortly after 5 a.m. ET, signaling a positive start to the trading day.
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: Despite some initial weakness, the Dow was poised to shed about 40 points.
  • London’s FTSE 100: The blue-chip index experienced a 0.4% decline in morning trading.
  • Chipmakers: AI darling Nvidia continued its winning streak, rising 3% in premarket trading in New York.

Investors will closely watch the non-farm payrolls report, which tracks the number of jobs added last month. Economists predict a slowdown from 353,000 to 200,000 jobs, potentially influencing the Fed’s decision on interest rates2. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the need for more data and a sustained cooling of inflation before any rate adjustments.

As the markets open, all eyes are on the employment data, shaping the trajectory of financial decisions in the coming days. Stay tuned for further updates!


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment