Global Markets

Canadian Markets

Canada’s TSX fell due to growing concerns over the health of the economy, as the unemployment rate rose again, from 6.2 percent to 6.4 percent. Investors are wary about the potential impacts of economic instability, leading to a decrease in stock values.

American Markets

In the United States, the stock markets showed mixed results. Recent employment data indicates that the job market is weakening, with unemployment rates on the rise, adding to investor anxiety and contributing to market volatility.

UK Markets

In the UK, domestic-focused mid-cap stocks experienced significant gains. This positive movement came after the Labour Party achieved a comprehensive victory in a parliamentary election. The win boosted investor confidence, leading to higher prices for blue-chip stocks, government bonds, and the British pound.

Japanese Markets

Japan’s Nikkei index saw a retreat from its record highs. Investors decided to lock in profits after a recent rally, causing the market to end flat. This profit-taking activity indicates a cautious approach by investors amid market uncertainty.

Oil Market

Meanwhile, oil prices remained relatively stable. Despite fluctuations in other markets, the oil sector did not experience significant changes, reflecting a balance between supply and demand factors influencing the global energy market.

Corporate Stock News

• Canada’s TSX Approval: The Canadian government has approved Glencore’s $6.93 billion acquisition of Teck Resources’ coal unit under strict conditions to preserve jobs.
• HSBC’s German Unit Sale: HSBC is attracting interest from BNP Paribas and UBS for the sale of its German wealth-management unit.
• Varta and Porsche Talks: German battery maker Varta is in discussions with Porsche about investing in its large-format lithium-ion battery business, V4Drive.
• Streaming Companies Challenge Canadian Rules: Global streaming giants are challenging new Canadian revenue-sharing rules that require them to fund local news, arguing that the government provided no legal basis for the demand.
• Suncor Oil Sands Shutdown: Suncor Energy has shut down its 215,000 barrel-per-day Firebag oil sands site in northern Alberta due to a nearby wildfire.
• Amazon’s Astro Robot Discontinued: Amazon will discontinue its security robot, Astro for Business, shifting its focus to household robots.
• Apple Removes VPN Apps in Russia: Apple has removed 25 VPN applications from its App Store in Russia as Moscow cracks down on services that help circumvent online restrictions.
• Blackstone and ANZ New Fund: Blackstone and ANZ Group have launched a new wealth management fund in Australia targeting the country’s wealthiest families.
• Discover Financial’s Increased Liability: Discover Financial Services has increased its liability to $1.2 billion to refund merchants affected by a card product misclassification issue.
• General Motors Emissions Penalty: General Motors will pay a $145.8 million penalty and forfeit carbon credits after a U.S. government investigation found excess emissions from 5.9 million vehicles.
• Nissan and Honda Collaboration: Nissan and Honda are considering standardizing automotive software and working together on electric vehicle charging to reduce costs.
• KKR and Francisco Partners Compete for Instructure: KKR and Francisco Partners are in the final bidding round to acquire U.S. education software provider Instructure.
• Macy’s Acquisition Bid: Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital have raised their bid to acquire Macy’s to about $6.9 billion.
• PayPal’s Unfair Term Ruling: An Australian court found PayPal’s local unit used an unfair term in contracts with small business customers.
• Tesla’s Expansion in Germany and China: Tesla received approval to expand its Gruenheide plant in Germany and its Model Y was included in a list of electric cars eligible for government purchase in China.
• Tesla also had it’s stock upgraded at China Renaissance Securities to a “Buy” rating with a $290 target.
• Magna International’s target price get reduced at Scotia Capital to $71 per share from $75.
• Teck Resources had it’s rating maintained at Scotia Capital with a $83 target forecast.