Markets Move, Leaders Meet, and AI Blinks
From soccer diplomacy to economic resilience, this week brought no shortage of cross-border headlines.
From soccer diplomacy to economic resilience, this week brought no shortage of cross-border headlines. Prime Minister Carney, President Trump, and Mexico’s Sheinbaum traded handshakes and trade barbs at the World Cup draw in Washington, just as a new IMF report gave Canada credit for staying strong under tariff pressure. At the same time, OpenAI hit the panic button while Canada’s job market quietly delivered a year-end surprise.
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Here's how some major markets/indexes performed in the last 5-days:
- Dow Jones: 47,993 (0.87%)
- Nasdaq 100: 25,682 (1.78%)
- TSX: 22,448 (0.06%)
- BTC: 89,444 (-1.10%)
- Ethereum: 3,026 (1.15%)
(USD)
As of 12/05/2025 at 11:40PM PST
Canada’s Job Market Surprises With Strong November Gains
What happened
Canada added 54,000 jobs in November, trimming the unemployment rate to 6.5 percent. That’s the lowest it’s been since July 2024 and marks three straight months of solid job gains. The growth came largely from part-time roles and was driven by increases in healthcare, education, and youth employment.
Catch up
The numbers came in well above expectations. Most economists predicted modest growth or even a cooling labour market, especially as the broader economy shows signs of slowing. Instead, the labour force held steady and wages grew at a pace of 3.6 percent compared to last year.
Why it matters
This is a welcome headline for policymakers in Ottawa. It shows resilience in the face of high interest rates and inflation fatigue, and it gives the Bank of Canada some breathing room. Don’t expect a rate cut just yet, though. The central bank is still navigating a delicate balance between supporting growth and keeping prices in check.
Bottom line
Part-time job growth isn’t the full picture, but the trend points in the right direction. Heading into the new year, Canada’s labour market looks healthier than many had forecast — a rare upside surprise in a year full of economic anxiety.
As gold prices climb and investor interest in hard assets accelerates, all eyes are on the companies positioned to capitalize. From copper exploration and critical minerals to biotech breakthroughs, these featured players are making strategic moves across the resource and health innovation landscape. Here's a closer look at who's making headlines.
With over 7.7 million ounces and more drilling on the way, Banyan Gold (TSX.V: BYN, OTCQB: BYAGF) is quickly reshaping perceptions of what’s possible in Yukon’s gold-rich terrain.
U.S. Gold Corp. (NASDAQ: USAU) is advancing one of America’s most compelling development-stage mining projects
Kodiak Copper (TSX.V: KDK, OTCQX: KDKCF) is exploring copper deposits essential to meet the growing infrastructure demands of AI and clean technology.
With two promising drug candidates in development, Medicus Pharma (NASDAQ: MDCX) is targeting significant market gaps in prostate cancer and skin cancer treatment.
Clifton Blake is a Canadian private real estate asset management company committed to delivering consistent, risk-adjusted returns for wealth advisors and their clients.
Trade Tensions Set the Stage at World Cup Draw
The 2026 World Cup draw in Washington brought more than just soccer buzz. It also teed up a high-stakes diplomatic encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The leaders used the backdrop of the global sporting event to discuss trade—specifically, the looming 2026 review of the USMCA trade pact and the tariffs now burdening North American supply chains.
Despite growing friction, especially between Canada and the U.S., a new report from the IMF suggests Canada’s economy has weathered the tariff storm better than expected. Still, uncertainty lingers. Trump has threatened to renegotiate or exit the USMCA entirely, while Mexico is under pressure to tighten control over drug trafficking to avoid further U.S. tariffs. For Canada, the key risk lies in getting squeezed out of key conversations just as it ramps up exports in areas like critical minerals, agriculture, and clean tech.
Why it matters: North America’s economic alignment remains fragile. For investors and businesses operating cross-border, these talks could dictate the rules of the game for the rest of the decade. Whether this informal meeting leads to de-escalation or deeper fractures will have ripple effects across everything from mining to manufacturing.
📢 This Week's Selected Company News:
HIVE Launches Short Film on Powering Progress in Paraguay
HIVE Digital Technologies has released a powerful short film highlighting its impact in Paraguay, where renewable energy from the world’s largest dam fuels both data infrastructure and community transformation. The film captures how HIVE’s operations are electrifying schools, supporting rural communities, and turning clean energy into real-world opportunity.
See how water becomes watts, watts become compute, and compute becomes prosperity.
Analyses: 50-Year Mortgage Risks
CMI Financial Group has released a deep-dive into the U.S. proposal for 50-year mortgages, questioning whether longer amortizations truly make home ownership more affordable. The firm highlights global examples and concludes the benefits are marginal at best, with borrowers potentially paying far more in interest. With Canadian regulators holding the line at 30 years, similar changes appear unlikely here.
Netflix Moves to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Assets
Netflix is in exclusive talks to buy key assets from Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal reportedly worth US$72 billion. The acquisition would include major franchises like HBO and DC, expanding Netflix’s footprint beyond streaming into legacy media. The move signals a bold push to cement its dominance as competition intensifies.
📬 That’s a wrap for this week!
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Joshua Gimenez
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BTV Business Television / CEO Clips
