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Channel Tunnel Chaos Enters Day Two as Power Fault Drags On

The disruption, caused by a fault in the system's overhead power supply, on Tuesday upended plans for thousands of passengers in London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Rail passengers travelling between the UK and mainland Europe are enduring a second day of major disruption after a power failure shut down the Channel Tunnel, halting both Eurostar and LeShuttle services. The fault, linked to the overhead power supply, brought traffic to a standstill and left thousands of travellers stranded on both sides of the Channel. Although some services have begun to move again, operators warn that delays and cancellations will continue while engineers work to stabilise the system. Eurostar has urged passengers to avoid travelling unless essential, as many trains remain suspended or heavily delayed. LeShuttle customers are also facing long queues, with significant backlogs reported at both Folkestone and Calais. The timing has added to the frustration, hitting one of the busiest travel per...

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Stock Market Update: Oil Surge and Fed’s Caution Impact Stocks Ahead of March Jobs Report

 




The stock market faced headwinds today as oil prices soared to their highest level in six months, while a Federal Reserve official’s warning added to investor caution. Here are the key highlights:
  1. Market Retreat:

    • The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) declined by almost 1.4%, shedding 550 points.
    • The S&P 500 (GSPC) dropped 1.2%, marking its worst single-day decline since February 13.
    • The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) slipped 1.4%.
  2. Fed’s Caution:

    • Minnesota Fed President Neel Kashkari suggested that the Fed may not cut interest rates in 2024 if inflation progress stalls.
    • Investors reacted to this cautious stance, reversing strong midday gains.
  3. Oil Price Surge:

    • Escalating tensions in the Middle East drove oil futures up by more than 1%.
    • West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) settled at $86.59 per barrel, and Brent (BZ=F) closed at $90.65 per barrel, reaching their highest levels since October.
  4. March Jobs Report Anticipation:

    • All eyes are now on the upcoming March jobs report, scheduled for release on Friday morning.
    • Experts expect it to provide insights into the robustness of the US labor market.
    • Initial jobless claims data released today showed a rise to 221,000, the highest level since January.

In summary, the stock market remains sensitive to oil price fluctuations and Fed communications. Investors eagerly await the jobs report, which will influence the Fed’s policy decisions. Stay tuned for further updates! 

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