Month: December 2024

National Bank of Canada (OTC:NTIOF) announced an increase in fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, supported by robust growth in its wealth management division. For the three months ending October 31, the bank’s adjusted profit climbed to C$928 million ($659.93 million), or C$2.58 per share, compared to C$850 million, or C$2.39 per…

U.S. stock index futures ticked higher Tuesday evening as attention shifted to an upcoming speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for insights on the future of interest rates. Futures rose following gains in major technology stocks, which pushed Wall Street to new record highs. However, the pace of the…

European shares opened flat on Wednesday as investors prepared for a crucial no-confidence vote by French lawmakers that is expected to remove Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.1% at 0810 GMT, on track for its fifth consecutive day of gains after closing at…

Bitcoin holds steady below recent highs as markets eye Trump crypto policies, Fed cues Bitcoin edged up on Wednesday, stabilizing at $96,418.1 by 00:51 ET (05:59 GMT), up 0.3% but remaining in a two-week trading range of $90,000 to $100,000. The cryptocurrency struggled to breach the $100,000 level despite its…

The Australian dollar fell to a four-month low on Wednesday after disappointing economic growth figures heightened expectations for earlier interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, South Korea’s won stabilized following the reversal of the martial law decision. The Chinese yuan attempted to recover from its lowest point in over a year, as…

Gold prices edged higher in Asian trading on Wednesday as South Korea’s political turmoil fueled some safe-haven demand. However, traders remained cautious, awaiting further signals on U.S. interest rate policy. The yellow metal found some support earlier in the week amid fears of a breakdown in the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, which…

South Korean shares declined on Wednesday as the nation grappled with its most significant political crisis in decades. Lawmakers called for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol following his unexpected declaration of martial law, which he later rescinded within hours. The announcement on Tuesday evening rattled markets, triggering a…

Oil prices remained largely unchanged in early Asian trading on Wednesday as markets assessed rising U.S. crude and fuel inventories alongside the potential for OPEC+ to extend supply cuts. By 0145 GMT, Brent crude futures edged down by 2 cents, or 0.03%, to $73.60 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas…

South Africa’s economy unexpectedly contracted in the third quarter of this year, largely due to a significant decline in agricultural output, according to data released by the statistics agency on Tuesday. Seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter GDP shrank by 0.3%, contrary to economists’ expectations of a 0.5% expansion in a Reuters poll.…

BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) announced on Tuesday its agreement to acquire private credit firm HPS Investment Partners in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $12 billion. The acquisition will significantly expand BlackRock’s presence in private credit, a rapidly growing segment and one of Wall Street’s most sought-after investment areas. Private credit,…