Bitcoin speculative fervor cools, traders await next Trump steps

Bitcoin speculative fervor cools, traders await next Trump steps

The speculative frenzy around Bitcoin since Donald Trump’s US election victory is moderating both in the spot and derivatives markets. The largest digital asset slid below $87,000 on Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said there was no need to hurry interest-rate cuts. That left the token about $6,500 below a record high achieved … Read more

Uncertainty rattles global crude prices, puts spotlight on Alberta oil revenues

Uncertainty rattles global crude prices, puts spotlight on Alberta oil revenues

The volatility of international oil markets hit home again earlier this week, as crude prices tumbled to their lowest levels in more than a year.   Just a couple of weeks ago, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices — North America’s benchmark for crude oil — were around $75 US a barrel. This week, prices skidded to … Read more

How extreme weather affects food prices in Canada

How extreme weather affects food prices in Canada

Extreme weather events like fires, floods, heat waves and droughts pose an increasing risk to Canada’s food supply chain, putting pressure on prices all the way to the grocery store shelf, say experts. “Anytime you have major weather-related events, it tends to increase costs,” said Frank Scali, vice-president of industry affairs at Food, Health & … Read more

Calm returns to Wall Street as U.S. stocks stabilize following recent volatility

Calm returns to Wall Street as U.S. stocks stabilize following recent volatility

U.S. stocks are bouncing back, and calm is returning to Wall Street after Japan’s market soared earlier Tuesday to claw back much of the losses from its worst day since 1987. The S&P 500 was rallying by 1.6 per cent in midday trading and on track to break a brutal three-day losing streak. It had tumbled a bit more … Read more

Wall Street has its worst day since 2022 as fears of U.S. recession deepen

Wall Street has its worst day since 2022 as fears of U.S. recession deepen

Wall Street fell the most in nearly two years, continuing a global rout in financial markets as fears worsen that the U.S. economy is slowing down. The S&P 500 fell three per cent on Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 1,000 points and the Nasdaq composite slid 3.4 per cent. The declines were just the latest … Read more

The Bank of Canada’s growing list of worries

The Bank of Canada’s growing list of worries

For months, the Bank of Canada has been trying to thread a needle: slow the economy just enough to get inflation back under control but not so much that it causes a recession. In a report released this week, the central bank offered up plenty of evidence that its strategy is working. Inflation has eased, economic growth has … Read more

JPMorgan’s China bear turns bullish, finds ‘20 to 25 pc upside’ in nation’s tech stocks

JPMorgan’s China bear turns bullish, finds ‘20 to 25 pc upside’ in nation’s tech stocks

Chinese tech shares have raced ahead of earnings, and investors expect companies to deliver in an improving economy before buying more stock, according to an analyst who once questioned the sector’s investibility. “We are still looking at roughly 20 per cent to 25 per cent of share price upside,” given improving cost structure and less … Read more

Crypto ‘re-staking’ platforms boom as traders chase bigger returns

Crypto ‘re-staking’ platforms boom as traders chase bigger returns

More than $18 billion worth of cryptocurrency has moved into a new type of platform which offers investors rewards in exchange for locking up their tokens, in a complex scheme that analysts warn poses a risk for users and the crypto market. The soaring popularity of so-called “re-staking” is the latest sign of risk-taking in … Read more

‘Do I Pay for My Daughter’s Ear Infection or Food’: Manager Had $34K Student Debt, Now It’s Over $500K

‘Do I Pay for My Daughter’s Ear Infection or Food’: Manager Had K Student Debt, Now It’s Over 0K

As a senior manager at a pharmaceutical firm, Angela Bolt’s student loans began at $34,000, but have grown to an overwhelming $528,152 over the years. In a BBC interview, she expressed her disbelief, saying, “The numbers are so real and astronomical that I can’t even fathom making a payment.” As of early 2023, Bolt’s monthly … Read more

Could Red Sea attacks reignite supply chain chaos?

Could Red Sea attacks reignite supply chain chaos?

Shipping traffic through the Red Sea has plummeted as Houthi militants step up their attacks on vessels in the region. American-led airstrikes have done little to deter the disruption and now the CEO of one of the biggest shipping companies in the world says the disruption will probably last at least a few months. “So for us, … Read more