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Wall Street Futures Rise Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday

  US stock futures edged higher on Wednesday as investors looked to extend the market’s recent rally into the Thanksgiving holiday. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.2%, S&P 500 futures rose 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.3% . The move follows a strong session on Tuesday, when the Dow surged more than 660 points (1.4%) , marking its third consecutive day of gains. Tech stocks continued to drive momentum, with Alphabet closing at record highs after reports that Meta may adopt Google’s TPU chips in the coming years. Meanwhile, Nvidia shares slipped over 2.5% as competition in the AI chip space intensified. Investors are also keeping a close eye on the Federal Reserve. Markets are currently pricing in an 85% probability of a quarter-point rate cut in December , which has helped bolster optimism. Lower Treasury yields and easing inflation pressures have further supported the bullish sentiment. Through the first two trading days of this holiday-shortened we...

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Canada’s Labour Market Adds 90,000 Jobs in April, Surpassing Predictions

 


In a surprising turn of events, Canada’s labour market exceeded expectations by adding 90,000 jobs in April 2024. This robust growth comes despite earlier predictions of a more modest increase. Economists had anticipated a gain of only 15,000 jobs, but the actual figures far surpassed that estimate.

Here are the key highlights from the latest Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada:

  1. Employment Growth: The Canadian economy experienced a significant boost, with employment rising by 0.4% in April. This positive trend follows six consecutive monthly declines in employment rates. Core-aged men (25 to 54 years old) and women both contributed to this growth, along with male youth aged 15 to 24.

  2. Part-Time Employment: The surge in employment was primarily driven by part-time jobs, which increased by 50,000 (1.4%) during the same period.

  3. Sector Breakdown: Several sectors saw notable gains. Employment rose in professional, scientific, and technical services (+26,000; +1.3%), accommodation and food services (+24,000; +2.2%), health care and social assistance (+17,000; +0.6%), and natural resources (+7,700; +2.3%). However, utilities experienced a decline (-5,000; -3.1%).

  4. Regional Impact: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and New Brunswick led the way in employment growth. Ontario added 25,000 jobs, while British Columbia saw an increase of 23,000. Quebec and New Brunswick also experienced gains of 19,000 and 7,800 jobs, respectively.

  5. Unemployment Rate: Despite the employment surge, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1% in April. This stability followed a steady rise over the past year due to high interest rates affecting the economy.

In summary, Canada’s labour market demonstrated resilience and momentum in April, defying earlier projections. The unexpected surge in job creation bodes well for the country’s economic recovery, even amidst challenging circumstances.

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