
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index lost more than 100 points Tuesday ahead of an expected interest rate cut Wednesday, while U.S. markets were also down. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 121.09 points at 25,504.33. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 154.10 points at 44,247.83. The S&P 500 index was down 17.94 points at 6,034.91, while the Nasdaq composite was down 49.45 points at 19,687.24. “Relative to the churn we have seen in the markets the last few days ... today being a little bit of a boring day would be fairly welcome for many investors,” said Stephen Duench, vice-president and portfolio manager for AGF Investments Inc. Wednesday is set to be more exciting, with an interest rate cut expected in Canada and important consumer inflation data coming in the U.S. “I do expect a little bit more fireworks tomorrow,” said Duench. The Bank of Canada is widely expected to announce an outsized cut Wednesday of half a percentage point, he said. “Anything other than that would be a surprise.” The U.S. Federal Reserve has its last decision of the year scheduled for next week, and market watchers are leaning toward a smaller quarter-percentage-point cut there, said Duench. It would be the third cut this year after the central bank hiked rates to a two-decade high to fight inflation. The inflation report will be the last significant data point before the central bank’s decision, Duench said. If the inflation report shows price growth is proving more stubborn than expected, that could change the Fed’s thinking on rates next week, he said. “Maybe that's part of the reason we've seen churn in the market the last few days in the U.S.” Beneath the surface, there was some movement in the tech sector, where Oracle sank 6.7 per cent after its latest earnings report missed expectations. Meanwhile, Google's stock price rose by more than five per cent. The company on Tuesday unveiled its new chip meant for quantum computing. Duench said after the advent of artificial technology led a rally earlier this year, quantum computing could be another frontier for investors to keep an eye on. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.59 cents US compared with 70.77 cents US on Monday. The January crude oil contract was up 12 cents at US$68.59 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down two cents at US$3.16 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$32.60 at US$2,718.40 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.27 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian PressTikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what's next?
Receive the ultimate handheld gaming device for free, valued at CA$899, with the purchase of ASUS or ROG laptops or desktops over CA$1,499 in selected retailers until December 19, 2024 TORONTO, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ASUS today announced an exciting holiday promotion that combines premium performance with unmatched gaming portability, at an incredible value making it one of this year’s most exciting deal. From December 6 to December 19, 2024, customers purchasing any ASUS or ROG laptops or desktops priced at CA$1,499 or more will receive a complimentary ROG Ally . This promotion is valid only while supplies last and cannot be combined with other offers. Valued at CA$899, the ROG Ally is the perfect addition to any tech enthusiast’s or gamer’s arsenal, offering unparalleled gaming on the go. This exclusive promotion is available on the , , , , , and selected retailers. For , this promotion is available upon a list of predefined products only, available . The ROG Ally is the ultimate handheld gaming device, powered by the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor from AMD. Built on the “Zen 4” architecture combined with AMD RDNA 3 architecture-based graphics, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor rivals the prowess of game consoles, featuring 8 cores, 16 threads, and up to 8.6 teraflops of graphics processing power. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme supports AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and AMD Radeon Super Resolution upscaling technologies for excellent performance and stunning visuals in demanding AAA and indie titles, whether you’re playing solo or with friends. The Ally also comes equipped with 16 GB of high speed LPDDR5 6400 MHz memory, 512 GB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, and a UHS-II microSD card slot to further expand its storage capacity and WiFi 6E. All this flagship gaming performance demands a display to match, and the Ally does not disappoint. Equipped with a 120 Hz FHD (1080p) touchscreen with AMD FreeSync Premium technology , gamers will enjoy supreme motion clarity in fast-paced games, with no tearing or stuttering. Since it runs Windows 11, it can play any game from any platform and includes three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate right out of the box. This holiday season, elevate your productivity with a high-performance ASUS laptop or desktop, and take your gaming experience to new heights, all at no additional cost. Purchase an ASUS or ROG laptop or desktop priced at CA$1,499 or more from December 6 to December 19, 2024, at participating retailers. Check each retailer’s specific terms to understand how the promotion applies, as eligibility and requirements may vary. Offer valid while supplies last. Both the purchased product and the complimentary ROG Ally must be returned together in the event of a product return. This promotion is valid only while supplies last and cannot be combined with other offers. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your tech setup with the best of ASUS and ROG! This promotion is available on the , , , , , and selected retailers in Canada from December 6 to December 19, 2024, or while supplies last. For more details about this offer, visit ASUS Canada or contact your nearest participating retailer. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information. Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, system components, laptops, desktops, monitors, smartphones, audio equipment, routers, peripherals and accessories. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events. ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and it continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world. To become one of those who dare, learn more about ROG at Some online retailers may apply this promotion exclusively to a selected range of laptops and desktops. Please refer to the retailer’s promotional page for a complete list of eligible products. Check with the online retailer for more information. Both the purchased product and the complimentary ROG Ally must be returned together in the event of a product return. This promotion is valid only while supplies last and cannot be combined with other offers. AMD FreeSync/FreeSync Premium/FreeSync Premium Pro technology requires AMD Radeon graphics and a display certified by AMD. See for complete details. Confirm capability with your system or display manufacturer before purchase. GD-127 Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at Bluetooth version may vary according to OS version Terms and exclusions apply. Offer only available in eligible markets for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Eligible markets are determined at activation. Game catalog varies by region, device, and time A photo accompanying this announcement is available atGophers women’s basketball improves to 7-0, dominate Montana in second game without injured Mara Braun
A Nov. 21 Threads post ( , ) offers a purported comment from a congresswoman about the scale of misconduct by her colleagues. “BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene says if every member of Congress had to resign for doing what Matt Gaetz has been accused of, ‘Democrats would have a supermajority,” the post reads. The post was shared more than 200 times in five days. | | The claim originated as satire on another social media account. There are no reliable reports of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene saying that, although she has insinuated that other members of Congress have had their misconduct covered up. Former Florida Rep. to become President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general quickly as of him using drugs, paying women for sex and having sex with a minor gained national attention. Gaetz has . The claims had been investigated by the House ethics committee, which on Gaetz after he resigned from Congress to pursue the appointment. Greene, a Republican from Georgia, has been an ally of Gaetz in the House, but the post fabricates the quote from her alleging similar improprieties by other members of Congress. The quote appears to have originated with a from The Halfway Post. , the account says it provides “Halfway true comedy and satire,” and “I don't report the facts, I improve them.” The Threads post from the same day is an example of what could be called “stolen satire,” where stories written as satire and presented that way originally are captured and reposted in a way that makes them appear to be legitimate news. As a result, readers of the second-generation post are misled, as was the case here. : Greene has, however, suggested that other members of Congress have covered up misconduct. In a addressed to her "Republican colleagues in the House and Senate" – when the House ethics committee was still considering releasing the report – she said “all the ethics reports and claims including the one I filed,” should be released, along with “sexual harassment and assault claims that were secretly settled paying off victims with tax payer money.” The post ends with, “If we’re going to dance, let’s all dance in the sunlight. I’ll make sure we do.” However, the specific claim that Democrats would have a supermajority if the reports were so numerous − and possibly lopsided to one political party − that they could flip control of the House is not something she said on social media or in any reports from reliable news outlets. A supermajority is usually defined in Congress as a two-thirds majority. Republicans will have slim majorities in both houses when the next Congress is seated in January.USA TODAY could not reach the social media user who shared the claim for comment. and also debunked the claim. The Halfway Post, accessed Nov. 25, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nov. 19,MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media , leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.