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Market Futures Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment

  U.S. stock futures edged lower early Thursday as investors attempted to extend Wednesday’s rebound but remained cautious amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 0.4%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped roughly 0.2% each. The pullback followed a strong regular session in which all three major indexes posted gains, with the Dow snapping a three‑day losing streak.  The overnight weakness reflects persistent market sensitivity to geopolitical developments. Escalating tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to drive volatility across asset classes, with traders closely watching oil prices and inflation implications. Recent sessions have seen markets swing sharply as headlines shift, underscoring the fragile balance between economic fundamentals and geopolitical risk.  Despite the cautious tone, Wednesday’s rally showed that investors are still willing to buy into dips—particularl...

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Canada Post Resumes Operations Tuesday After Month-Long Strike

 

 Mail is set to begin moving again on Tuesday, December 17, after a month-long strike by Canada Post employees. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordered the postal workers back to work, declaring an impasse in negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

While operations will technically resume on Tuesday, Canada Post has warned that it will take time to clear the backlog of packages and letters that accumulated during the strike. The company will not receive or pick up new products until Thursday, December 19, and will start accepting new international mail on December 23.

Canadians should expect delays into January 2025, and post office hours of operation may vary as the company ramps up operations. The CIRB has extended the current collective agreements until May 22, 2025, to allow for continued negotiations.

Canada Post and the union have agreed to implement a five percent wage increase, retroactive to the day after the collective agreements expired. Key issues in the dispute included wage increases and a push by Canada Post to expand delivery to the weekend.

The federal government had initially resisted intervening in the dispute but eventually directed the CIRB to order the workers back to work. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon emphasized the need to address the structural issues facing Canada Post and find a sustainable solution.

As operations resume, Canada Post is committed to providing customers with as much information as possible regarding specific timelines and capacity. The company is also working to ensure that employees are compensated fairly during this transition period.




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