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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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Canada's Unemployment Rate Hits 6.8% in November: Highest Since January 2017

Canada's unemployment rate surged to 6.8% in November, reaching its highest level since January 2017, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period. This increase comes despite the addition of 51,000 jobs during the month.

Statistics Canada's November labour force survey revealed that the rise in unemployment was driven by a growing number of people entering the job market, which outpaced job creation. The labour force participation rate increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Economists are closely watching these developments as the Bank of Canada prepares for its upcoming interest rate decision. With high interest rates cooling the labour market over the past year, many unemployed Canadians have faced longer periods without work.

The report also highlighted that 46.3% of unemployed Canadians in November had not worked in the last year or had never worked, up from 39.5% a year ago. Meanwhile, average hourly wages were up 4.1% from a year ago, marking a slowdown in annual wage growth.

As the country grapples with these economic challenges, the Bank of Canada's decision on interest rates will be crucial in shaping the future of the job market.



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