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Trade Tensions Rattle Wall Street’s Momentum

After an impressive streak of gains that pushed major U.S. indices to record highs, the stock market faced a sharp reversal as renewed trade tensions triggered investor anxiety. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all pulled back in Friday’s session, with financials and industrials leading the retreat. Concerns were reignited after new tariffs targeting tech and manufacturing imports between the U.S. and China surfaced, prompting fears of escalating economic friction. These measures, aimed at protecting domestic industries, were met with criticism from global partners and stoked uncertainty about the broader trade landscape. Analysts note that while earnings remain strong and economic indicators are still resilient, the shadow of protectionism looms large. Investor sentiment, which had been buoyed by dovish monetary policy and solid corporate results, now finds itself caught in geopolitical crosswinds. Many traders are now recalibrating their expectations heading ...

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Canada’s Employment Boom: 76,000 New Jobs Signal Economic Recove

 


Canada’s labour market made impressive gains in January as the economy added a net 76,000 jobs, helping push the unemployment rate down to 6.6%. The surge in employment far exceeded economists’ expectations, signaling renewed confidence amid ongoing global economic uncertainties.

A key driver behind the strong performance was the manufacturing sector, which contributed roughly 33,000 new positions. This development underscores the sector’s reliance on U.S. demand for Canadian exports, a factor that has become increasingly significant given current trade tensions. In addition to the manufacturing boost, full-time employment also saw a healthy increase while part-time roles added to the overall strength of the report.

Despite these encouraging signs, analysts remain cautious. Although the unemployment rate has fallen, it still points to some underlying slack in the labour market. Wage growth moderated slightly to 3.5% on a year-over-year basis, which could influence upcoming monetary policy decisions by the Bank of Canada. With the possibility of further interest rate cuts on the horizon, this robust job report is likely to play a crucial role in shaping economic policy in the coming months.

The latest figures paint a positive picture for Canada’s recovery, offering renewed optimism for a more resilient and dynamic economic future.

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