Group 1: Economic Indicators - The Canadian economy added 8,200 jobs in December, exceeding economists' expectations, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.8% from 6.5% in November [2] - The increase in job seekers contributed to the higher unemployment rate, indicating a cautious balance in the job market with ongoing job creation but some slack [2] Group 2: Market Performance - The S&P/TSX composite index reached a new record, up 234.29 points at 32,612.93, reflecting positive market sentiment [4] - U.S. stocks also hit record highs, with the Dow Jones industrial average up 237.96 points at 49,504.07, and the S&P 500 index up 44.82 points at 6,966.28, indicating a "bad news is good news" mentality among traders [4][7] Group 3: Company Performance - Aritzia Inc. shares increased by 5% following a strong earnings report, with sales in Canada up 29% year over year, suggesting robust performance in the retail sector [3]
Canada, U.S. stock markets rise as jobs data from both countries came into focus
Investment Executive·2026-01-09 22:07