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Quebec’s Groundhog Fred Signals an Early Spring

  Shubenacadie Sam exits her burrow at a Groundhog Day event at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Sam saw her shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter.  Quebec’s beloved weather‑predicting groundhog, Fred la Marmotte, delivered welcome news this morning after emerging from his burrow and not seeing his shadow—an outcome traditionally interpreted as a sign that spring will arrive ahead of schedule. The annual Groundhog Day event in Val-d’Espoir drew crowds despite chilly temperatures, with spectators eager to hear Fred’s forecast. According to folklore, a shadowless emergence means winter’s grip is loosening, offering hope for milder days sooner than expected. Local organizers celebrated the prediction, noting that Fred’s early‑spring call has become a cherished tradition for families across the province. While meteorologists remind Canadians that groundhog predictions are more symbolic than scientific, the ritual remains a joyful mi...

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Stock Market Today: Futures Slide Amid Government Shutdown Fears and Sticky Inflation

                                         

U.S. stock futures took a hit on Friday as investors braced for a potential government shutdown and digested mixed inflation data. Futures tied to the S&P 500 dropped 1%, while Nasdaq futures plunged 1.3%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell around 0.5%.

The looming government shutdown, driven by the House of Representatives voting against a spending bill, has heightened concerns among investors. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, showed a slight month-over-month increase of 0.1% in November, indicating persistent inflationary pressures.

Key companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom faced significant pressure, while Tesla saw a 6% drop following a vehicle recall. Bitcoin prices also retreated nearly 10% amid record ETF outflows.

Investors remain cautious as they await further developments on both the political and economic fronts.



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