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  U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday, led by gains in tech heavyweights after a favorable court ruling for Alphabet. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures advanced, while Dow futures were little changed ahead of closely watched labor market data. Alphabet shares jumped over 5% in premarket trading after a Washington judge ruled the company will not be forced to sell its Chrome browser but must share certain data with rivals. The decision also allows Google to continue lucrative payments to Apple, sending the iPhone maker’s stock higher. Analysts said the ruling removes a major legal overhang for Big Tech and signals a preference for pragmatic remedies over structural breakups. Investors are now turning their attention to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report, due later in the morning, as part of a week packed with employment data culminating in Friday’s nonfarm payrolls. Weakness in recent jobs reports has fueled expectations of a September interest rate cut, ...

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Canada Post Strike Disrupts Black Friday Sales and Holiday Shipments

 

The ongoing Canada Post strike has significantly disrupted Black Friday sales and holiday shipments, causing frustration among businesses and consumers alike. The strike, which began on November 15, 2024, has now entered its third week, with over 55,000 postal workers demanding improved wages and job security.

The timing of the strike couldn't be worse, as the period leading up to Black Friday and the holiday season is typically the busiest time of the year for Canada Post. The Crown corporation has reported missing out on delivering approximately 10 million parcels since the strike began. This has forced many small businesses to seek alternative, often more expensive, shipping options.

Retail analyst Bruce Winder noted that while larger retailers with their own logistics networks are less affected, small businesses are bearing the brunt of the strike. "The price increase from Canada Post to couriers is significant, and most small businesses can't afford to absorb these costs," Winder said.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), added that some small businesses might take a loss this season just to get goods out the door and avoid inventory pileups in the new year. "If we don't have the strike resolved this week, most merchants are not going to be able to use Canada Post as a reliable delivery service," Kelly warned.

Even if the strike is resolved soon, it will likely take weeks for Canada Post to clear the backlog of unsent items and catch up with the demand. This means that many holiday packages may not arrive until after Christmas, causing further inconvenience for consumers and businesses.

The strike has also highlighted the vulnerability of rural and remote communities that rely solely on Canada Post for their mail delivery. "Everyone saying we don't need Canada Post obviously doesn't live in a rural area that couriers don't come to," one consumer commented online.

As negotiations between Canada Post and the union continue, businesses and consumers are left hoping for a swift resolution to minimize the impact on the holiday season.



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