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Wall Street Holds Steady as S&P 500 Hits Record Ahead of Christmas Break

Market Snapshot – December 24, 2025 Dow Jones Futures: Flat at 48,735 points S&P 500 Futures: Near 6,957 points, little changed after Tuesday’s record close Nasdaq 100 Futures: Slight dip of 0.1% to 25,796.5 points S&P 500 Index: Closed Tuesday at 6,909, its latest all-time high Key Drivers Robust economic growth continues to fuel investor optimism. Seasonal “Santa Claus rally” has lifted stocks for four consecutive sessions. Markets will close early today at 1 p.m. EST and remain shut tomorrow for Christmas Day. Traders remain cautious about inflation and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026. Quick Take Wall Street enters the holiday season on a high note, with the S&P 500 near the 7,000 mark and futures showing little movement. The shortened trading session means liquidity will be thin, amplifying small moves. Still, the overall tone remains upbeat, with investors betting that the year-end rally will carry into the final days of 2025.

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Freight Train Standstill: Canadians Await Details on Railway Reopening

 

Businesses and industry leaders across Canada are holding their breath as they await updates on when freight trains will resume operations. The federal government has stepped in after a work stoppage brought all shipments to a halt for an entire day.

Months of tense negotiations between Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) reached a breaking point when the two sides failed to reach a deal by 12:01 a.m. eastern time on Thursday. In response, both companies locked out workers.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon swiftly intervened, asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration on the parties. He also requested that the railways resume operations under the terms of the old collective agreement until new deals are in place.

CN promptly lifted its lockout in anticipation of a formal order from the board, while CPKC prepared to restart operations. However, the Teamsters union, representing rail workers, refused to discuss resuming service and instead challenged the constitutionality of MacKinnon’s direction.

The impact of this work stoppage extends beyond supply chains. Tens of thousands of commuters in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver rely on lines running on CPKC-owned tracks. The urgency to restore rail services is palpable, and all eyes are on the CIRB’s decision.


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